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EdLu^-yaro-'? 


r 


THE 


UNIVERSITY   AND   CITY 


OF 


OXFORD; 


^      DI8PLATBD   IN  ▲ 

.* 

SERIES  OF  SEVENTY-TWO  VIEWS, 

DRAWN   AND   BNOBAYBD   BT  J.   AND   H.  9.   STOBBB. 


ACCOMPANIED  WITB 

A  DIALOGUE, 

AFTER   THE   MANNER   OF   CASTIGLIONE. 

NT 

ROWLEY  lASCELLES,  ESa 

Of  tbe  lliddle  Tenple,  Btfripteri 

AUTHOR  or  THE   HERALDIC   ORlQtH   OF  OOTHIC   ARCBtTMCTVREf 


lUmaoti: 

PUBLISHED  BT  SHERWOOD,  NEELT,  AND  JONES. 

SOLD  BT  ALL  THB  BOOKtSLLEM  AT  OBfOBD. 

IS21. 


Eciut-    4-GS:<a  ,  l*] 


T^c 


^^TrUOi^aMj^f...^ 


Co«,  Priaicr.  Little  Carter  Lue,  Si.  Pkur«. 


TO  THB 

CHANCELLOR,  MASTERS,  AND  SCHOLARS, 


OF  TBS 


UNITERSITT: 


TO  THE  MAYOR,  ALDERMEN,  AND  BURGESSES 


ov 


THE  CITY) 


AWD  TO 


THE  REPRESENTATIVES  IN  PARLIAMENT 


THE  UNIVERSITY  AND  CITY 


OF 


PZFORD 


THIS  WORK, 


IS  RESFBCFULLY  DEDICATED, 


BY 


THE   PROPRIETOMB. 


PROBMIUM  TO  THE  DIALOGUE. 


JLKE  ^oblic  have  long  been  calHng  for  some  fresb  publication  con- 
oerning  OxroBD,  upon  a  plan  different  from  every  foregoing  one. 

In  presenting  tbis  as  sncb>  we  bope  we  sbaU  not  be  cbarged 
witb  presumption  or  arrogance.  Sncb  an  undertaking  is  not 
■o  difficult  as  may  be  imag^ed.  First,  because  tbe  sulgect 
itself  is  inexbaustible ;  and  next,  because  to  be  new  and  original, 
it  is  only  necessary  to  tbink  witii  sincerity  and  candour,  and  to 
write  as  we  think;  to  let  the  heart  speak  freely  upon  paper  "  in 
a  general  honest  thought,"  without  regard  for  party,  or  consdous- 
ness  of  any  personal,  feelings. 

For  this,  as  well  as  for  other  reasons,  we  hare  thought  the 
public  would  prefer  that  form  of  writing,  called  a  Duloovk.  A 
Dialogue  has  the  advantage  of  being  didactic,  without  being  either 
dogmatic  or  sceptical :  it  may  have  uniformity  of  design,  with 
Turiety  of  sentiment  and  character,  l^th  all  the  couTenience  of 
a  continued  text,  the  very  interlocutory  nature  of  the  composition 
allows  of  those  replies,  additions,  corrections,  and  qualifications  | 
of  that  contrariety  of  opinion,  and  referential  observation,  which 
make  the  subject  of  appendixes,  motet,  and  prefiuxs,  in  any  other 
form  of  writing.  All  which  appendixes,  &c.  break  the  unity  of 
the  discourse,  while  they  interrupt  the  attention,  and  distract  the 
recoUectiott  of  the  reader. 

Nor  is  the  writer  of  a  Dialogue  responsible  for  the  opinions 
of  the  persons  who  take  a  part  therein,  fiirther  than  it  is  at  his 
peril,  if  he  notices  and  sets  down  any  thing  at  variance  witii  plain 


PROBBflUM  TO  THE  DIALOGUE. 

sense;  with  manly  liberal  feeling;  with  the  duties  of  a  good 
Christian ;  or  of  a  real  lover  of  his  Conntry  and  the  Laws. 

There  have  been  many  forms  of  Dialogue- Writing  from  the  time 
of  Xenophon  and  Plato^  to  that  of  Cicero  and  of  Lndan^  among 
the  anipients  j  as  well  as  from  that  of  Castiglione^  down  to  Hnme^ 
Lord  Lyttleton^  and  Bishop  Hnrd^  among  the  modems*  In  select- 
ing  Castiglione  for  onr  models  we  do  not  profess  to  copy  his  manner 
of  writings  or  to  imitate  him  any  farther  than  by  making  the  other 
sex  also  a  part  of  the  company^  and  sharing  in  the  conversation. 

In  tbis.disconrse  upon  Oxford^  we  do  not  profess  dtber  to 
^ep^  all  that  is  contained  in.  those  very  useful  books  called  ffU^^ 

m 

iifrietj^  CampamanSi  &c.  The  very  privilege  of  discourse  b  selection. 
Instead  of  presenting  the  reader  with  naked  catalogues  and 

ft 

crude  materials^  for  himself  to  prepare  and  distil  t]ie  spirit  from^  i|i 
a  Dialogue^  the  subject-n^atter  is  more  concoot^d^  and  assii|ulated 
into  a  substance  better-adaptje^.  for  intellectual  nourislunent. 

The  cursory  rqview.only  of  thcf  characters^  opinions^  and  taMe# 
which  have  prevailed  i^  diyScr^t  tinier  in  our.Unive^ities^  pr  i^ven 

i 

an  historical  sketch  of  those  venial  errors  and  foUieSj  from  wh^c^ 
the  best  and  wisest  are  not.  exempted ;  this^  if  n^ado  witb:.wdl- 
ipoiint  c^dour  and  faiirness^  and  with  a  pardonabj^  jtwldn^ss^  wiy 
^ord  UQ  onljfi^ry  moral. 

.  Another  advjpintage  of  41  Dialogue  is«  thatji  wh^rea^.  a  ^/flfyj 
or  a  DescripiUm^  is  confuied  .to.^e./;iouu  pf  ^ht^in^t  ^.much 
as  any  sin^  paintipg  5  in  a  Di^<ig.uej .  pn  jthe.other  Jwdd,.  |li^«i 
are  as  many  points  of  sight  as  there  are  iipqalcer^^  ^d.ewb.lQfkyi 
vary  his  distanp^  fron\  the  ojbject^  ppproachiQg  nearer>  or.wfth- 
dr(iwi|ig.further».  iA  order  jU>  vieu^  it  under  every  imngiviible  yar)« 
itti^Hn  of  light  mMi.  field  of  vision. 


PROBMIUM  TO  THE  DIALOGUB. 

Soch  a  discursive  way  of  treating  the  sobject  may  accommodate 
men  of  business^  who  cannot  spare  much  time  to  read  \  and  men 
of  pleasure  (lovers  of  light  reading)^  who  wUl  not.  And  while  it 
may  make  some  readers  thinks  it  may  save  others  the  labonr  and 
coat  of  thinking. 

Oor  ol:ject^  however,  is  not  to  pronounce  jndgments,  but  to 
induce  men  to  think  who  are  willing  to  do  so^  and  to  judge  for 
themselves.  The  question  now  at  issue  between  the  Universities 
and  their  opponents  is  here  set  in  view;  and  the  latest  speculations 
on  the  subject  of  our  National  Establishments  in  Church  and  State> 
together  with  our  National  Education,  are  observed  upon :  adverting 
to  another  topic  not  nnconnected  with  the  former,  and  also  of 
itself  a  matter  of  general  interest,^-our  National  Architecture, 
which  makes  so  prominent  a  feature  in  the  portraiture  of  Oxford. 

In  conformity  to  the  reigning  taste,  the  Work  is  enriched  with 
graphic  representations ;  and  that  in  such  abundance,  that  the 
first  of  every  three  leaves  is  a  copper-plate.  The  reader  may, 
if  he  pleases,  consider  the  Dialogue  as  being  merely  ancillary  to 
the  Plates.  At  least,  the  Dialogue  is  only  a  DisoMtse,  naturally 
arising  from  a  view,  first,  of  the  objects  themselves,  on  the  spot  j 
and  then 9  of  a  futhful  engraving  exhibited  to  the  reader. 

A  running  titie  at  the  head  of  the  page  in  Roman  capitals,  will 
serve  as  a  rubric  or  directory,  indicating  the  order  of  taking  the 
subject  by  the  arrangement  and  classing  of  the  different  Colleges. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that  we  presume  not  to  derogate  from 
any  work  past,  or  in  preparation.  As  we  should  feel  a  gratifica- 
tion in  exciting  a  fresh  curiosity  to  study  such  works,  so  we  fear 
no  collision  with  us,  in  the  career  we  are  now  taking.  And  so  far 
from  deprecating  competition,— we  invite  it. 


CHARACTERS  OF  THE  DIALOGUE. 


Falkland. 

Il  Cortboiano. 

like  Lady  Gbrtrudb. 

Edoam,  her  Son. 

JEhruwA,  Sister  to  Edgar, 


^#«»i#^>^^#»»«i»#>» 


YoRiCK,  Mate  and  Sonde. 


DIAIiOGITE 


VPOV 


THE    UNIVERSITY, 


I  RBHBMBBR  perfectly  well  the  evening  when  the  party 
was  fonned  for  going  down  to  Oxford  to  spend  a  few  days 
there.  It  was  in  the  month  of  June  that  we  were  all  assem* 
bled  at  Lady  Gertrude's  house  in  London,  where  she  was 
fond  of  bringing  together  small  companies  of  not  more  than 
five  or  six  persons^  so  that  the  conversation  could  alvrays  be 
general.    She  used  often  to  object  to  the  custom  of  having 
larger  parties,  whether  at  dinner  or  of  an  evening,  as  they 
necessarily  split  into  separate  cSteriea  or  tSie^a^tSies,  each 
throwing  the  rest  of  the  company  out  of  the  conversalion* 
She  thought  it  was  taking  too  much  pains  to  assemble  two 
or  three  dozen  or  more  of  people  for  communtcations,  that 
it  seems  were  settled  better  between  two,  the  rest  taking  no 
part  therein  $  so  that  each  pair  might  just  as  well  whisper  to 
each  other  in  the  streets,  or  at  home.    She  thought  thia  was 
any  thing  but  the  being  social.    But  that  evening  the  above 
party  having  returned  from  an.  airing  in  Hyde  Park,  and 
orders  being  given  that  no  visitors  should  be  admitted,  lady 
Gettrude,  after  some  other  topics  of  conversation  had  been 
discussed,  and  a  pause  of  some  seconds  had  intervened, 
took  occasion  to  say  (addressing  herself  to  Falkland) — 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

You  bave  often  promised  me  to  ^ve  Edgar  some  i 
of  Oxford  University^  where  it  was  his  father's  inteution^ 
you  know^  to  have  sent  him.  Had  he  livedo  he  would  not 
only  have  accompanied  him  in  .person^  but  he  would  have 
fixed  our  residence  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  that 
renowned  seat  of  letters.  He  was  of  opinion  that  the  most 
precious  part  of  life^  that  when  the  heart  first  opens  itself 
to  friendship  s^nd  sentiment,  should  not  be  dehied  to  one's 
family,  and  cut  off  from  those  who  were  most  deeply  inte- 
rested in  its  character  and  success.  That  happiness  was 
denied  him;  but  his  last  moments  were  consoled  by  the 
anticipation  that  you  would  proveamore  able  guide  to  my 
son,  uniting,  as  you  do,  to  the  accomplishments  of  a  scholar, 
those  of.  a  philosopher  and  divi&e.  • 

Edoajl.  We  bave  Abe  advantage  too  of  a  diBtinguidied 
foreigner,  who.  is  now  on  a  visit  t&  »s,.and  who  b  to  reittain 
bese  a  few.  days;  for  it. is  easy  to  see  sueh  a  ccmversation 
will  not  be  exhausted,  ift  one  or.  two  days^  ev«n  tfaougb  the 
longest  in  :the  yeac 

>  '  Ml¥.'  I  for  ene  should  fike  extreiteLy  to  hear  you  con* 
tefvae  at  Im^e  oa  so^interesting  &  sid)ject 

Fi^LKr  For  my  part,  1  havfe  no  olijectioh  to  fcbe  pfo- 
posal*  '  Especially'  as.  theire  is  one  of  the  ^comp^my./wiio 
is^acseusttMied  toview  this  and  mo&k  suligects  with  the  eye 
of  k  man  of  ihe'^wotld.  {  Heis  of  the  modcm'sebdol^  .which 
{ft>a|ili  io'  iHewan  admiser  of  the  ancients  bs  dogmatical; 
wh^ mayr^toTt itylhat  Ae. worid  is a;t least iaclixMd*towiads 
the  oppiosfte  bias  of  being  sceptical^ 
'  It  CoirKBo.>  FalUand  will  not  oligect  to  my  tdnng^  a  dif- 
ferent view  of  the  subjeet  feom  that  whieh  h^  Mi^ts  to 
contemplate.  Our  views  may  be  difietent,  without  bebg 
ittconsisient:  smce  they  wiH.  be  fioimd  to  be  only:  the  .varying 
aspects  and  bearings  of  one  wnA  the  same  thing. 

Falk.  True ;  a  little  disciimination  and  deamess  of 


PI4I»OG0B  UPON  OXFORO. 

9tatea^«i^  wO)  r^povcik  .what  molent  mA  modem  prejiH 
djfe  have  fieparated  as  with  a  play^jumaa  screen:  which  aids 
for  a  time  the  purpose  of)  plot  and  counter-plot^,  bat  aa.the 
{ueca  adv^M^os  towi^  the  catastrophe^  the  scxeen  vaoishAS ; 
all  the  parties  meet  together  in  the  last  act  ia  perfect  har* 
mooy  with  each  other^  and  the  curtain  drops. 

^Elf.  How  much  I  should  like  to  see  <^Qrd  itself,  or  a 
good -panorama  of  it. 

Ladt  G.  We  shall  all  go  down  there  to-morrow  m<Km* 
iog,.  I  have  giveiji  the  neoessary  dkections  for  our  joumey, 
and  FalUand  has  supplied  us  with  descriptions,.  mapSf  and 
pictures,  that  vie  with  each  other  in  livielinesK  -and  accur^. 

.Fauh.  But  you  are  not  to  imagine^  thai:  in  an  cxourrioa 
for  a  few  days^  even  ,with  the  assistance  of  these  guides, 
and  of  your  humble  servant  for  a  Cicerenej  that  we  can 
know  Qzfivdx  indeed,  to  know  Oiiford  well,  and  to. examine 
all  it  contains,  would  require  years,  and  might  even  furnish 
occupation  for  a  whole  life. 

Il  Cortbo.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  several  lives. 

Fauk*  We  must  hastily  survey  it  in  the  cmnpass  of 
eight  or  ten;  summer  days.  In  that  time,  however,  we  shaH 
coUeci  materials  enough  for  the  mind  afterwards  to  ruminate 
upon.  Besides,  though  this  is  your  first  visit,  I  hope  it  w91 
not  be  your  last 

-^We  all  hoped  so  indeed  i  and  thus  man  proposes,  but 
Gode  dispoises-m 

Ijl  CSoutbo.  These  books  may  be  useful  assistants,  bat  I 
like  better  the  project  of  seeing  and  discomsing  upon  the 
object  placed  before  our  eyes»  The  attention  is  more  struck, 
and  the  recollection  fixed,  by  holding  up  to  view  the  object 
itself,  than  in  formal  histories  in  chronological  order,-^ 
beginning,  with  the  founders  of  the  respective  colleges, — the 
lists  of  benefaetora,— the  laying,  the  first  stone  of  the  several 
buildings,  and  so  forth,  with  a  worid  of  notes,  &c.    I  should 

b2 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Hke  fini  to  see  And  know  the  tree  Itself,  and  to  taste  its 
fruits ;  afterwards,  to  know  who  planted  it.  Then,  and  not 
before,  I  should  be  curious  to  enquire,  who  watered  its 
growth,  and  trimmed  its  luxuriance,  stirring  and  enriching 
the  soil  about  its  roots ;  who  first  fenced  it  by  enclosures 
from  outward  injury ;  but,  above  all,  who  adjusted  to  it  the 
▼igourous  graft  of  reformation. 

Edgar.  How  b  Oxford  situated  ?  Are  the  enwons 
pleasant,  and  the  landscape  beautiful  ? 

Falk.  Most  enviably  so.  To  the  north  is  a  fine  plain 
which  extends  to  the  horizon,  richly  covered  with  pasture 
and  wood;  through  which,  for  many  miles,  the  Cher- 
well,  stealing  akmg  as  in  ambuscade,  from  the  foliage  and 
intervening  objects,  emerges  to  view,  for  the  first  time,  at 
Oxford,  on  the  eastern  extremity.  While  on  the  western, 
the  Isis  files  round  at  the  point  where  the  plain  is  limited  by 
the  hills,  and  manoeuvres,  in  jnany  an  evolution,  to  a  plain 
on  the  south,  through  which  it  passes,  after  its  union  with 
the  Cherwell,  to  the  Thames.  The  hills  on  the  east  approach 
quite  close  to  the  city;  while  those  on  the  west,  more 
oblique  in  their  position,  seem,  as  it  were,  withdrawing  from 
it :  the  level  between,  is  but  u  junction  of  the  plains  on  the 
north  and  south,  forming  one  continued  platform  of  land.  A 
small  eminence  in  the  centre,  whereabouts  the  old  castle 
stands,  was  the  orq;inal  site  of  this  city,  the  name  of  which 
should  be  pronounced  and  spelt  Oxfor/,  aud  not  Oxford, — a 
variance,  which  has  suggested  some  ludicrous  etymologies. 
For  Caer,  in  British,  means  fort ;— it  was  the  fort  of  Osney, 
and  Caerfax,  Quatrevoix,  &c.  are  only  corruptions  upon  a 
transposition  of  the  two  syllables;  subtracting  from  the 
latter,  the  .£olic  digamma. 

SmV9.  But  go  on  with  your  description  of  the  landscape, 
the  first  appearance  of  the  city  itself,  and  the  impression  it 
makes  on  travellers  who  are  not  antiquaries. 


DIALOGUE   UPON  OXFORD. 

• 

Falk.  From  one  of  its  towers,  (that  of  Merton),  yoa 
bave  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  south  part  of  the  phiin^  and 
over  its  lengthened  expanse,  you  can  trace  at  leisure,  the 
wanderings  and  union  of  the  two  rivers.  Iffley  and  Nuneham 
appear  in  the  distance. 

*'  F^om  the  high  grounds  to  the  east  and  south-west," 
says  an  eloquent  and  observing  writer,  inRees's  Cyclopiedia, 
''  the  appearance  of  Oxford  is  singularly  picturesque  and 
inteitsting.  It  comprehends  groups  of  towers,  pinnacles, 
spires^  domes,  and  turrets,  intermixed  with  solemn  masses 
of  foliage ;  and  surrounded  by  verdant  meadows^  intersected 
by  several  streams.  Occasionally,  the  latter  present  an 
ocean-like  appearance;  when  the  swollen  waters  overflow 
their  natural  bounds,  and  inundate  the  flat  lands.  At  suck 
times  Oxford  seems  like  an  bland :  but  it  is  an  island  filled 
with  monastic  palaces,  intermixed  with  groves  and  gardens.. 
This  e£fect  is  not  unfrequent  in  the  seasons  of  spring  and 
autumn.  Its  site  plainly  indicates  a  monastic  origin.  The 
external  features  tod^  of  the  city,  and  the  customs  of  its 
inhabitants,  are  expressive  of  its.  primary  establishment.  It 
formerly  contained  nineteen  monastic  houses.  Its  natural 
portion  is  neither  a  military,  nor  a  commercial  one  :  but  its 
rivers,  as  well  as  the  city  itself,  have  called  forth  the 
dassical  and  harmonious  strains  of  various  poets ; — of  Cow-^ 
ley.  Pope,  Prior,  of  Philips,  and  Warton.  Other  modern, 
authors  have  attuned  their  respective  lyres  in  praise  of  tUs. 
*  modem  AthenSy  as  Camden  styles  it.'* 

lis  CoRTBG.  With  more  quaintness  than  truth,  you  wilt 
allow.  As  pUlosophers  called  themselves  not  "wise 
men,''  precisely,  but  "  lovers  of  wisdom  j"  so  these,  ok 
any  othjsr  seminaries  of  teaming,  should  as  modestly  b« 
styled  the  follower,  or,  lovers  of  Athens ;  a  city  whicb  was 
not  filled  merely  with  temples^  and  the  apparatus  of  insUtu-r 
tions,   nor  peopled  with  elegant  scholars  and  adolescent 


DIALOOUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

aosdemieiaosy.bttt  displayed  in  its  grown  men^  who  composed 
its  sei^ates  and  armiesy  the  seeond,  (if  not  the  fisst)  standard 
of  Grecian  poUty,  as  well  as  taste  and  viitoe* 

Falk.  Admitted, — ^but  we  owe  it  to  snch  places  as 
Oxford  and  Cambridge^  that  we  know  of  that  st8ndaid«  We 
owe  it  to  these  that  we  can  read  the  record  of  it ;  or,  ind^^ 
that  w^  pd^isess^  that  record  -at  all. 

Mvf*  But  to  continue  the  description. 

Falk.  ^<  The  approaches  to  the  city,'*  says  the  above 
writer,  *f  froin  iiondon  on  the  east,  as  well  as  from  the 
north,  west,  -and  south,  are  all  very  striking  and  beantiftily 
yet  each  dissimilar  in  appearance  and  effect  from  the  rest* 
From  the  east,  Magdiden  College  Bridge,  with  the  groves 
and  towers  of  that  Colkge,  together  with  the  nd\  botuiic 
gardens,  are  seen  near  the  foreground,— <iver  and  beyond 
which,  peer  aroand,  l^e  towers  and  spixes  of  All  Saiats 
and  St.  Mary's  Churches,  and  those  of  Christ  Church  Col- 
lege to  the  left.  On  passing  over  the  Bridge^  and  proceed- 
ing up  High  Street,  the  fronts  of  several  colleges,  churdies, 
and  private  dwellingsare  gradually  and  successively  unfolded 
to  the  sight.  The  street  is  broad  and  long  ;•— it  has  a  gentle 
bend  or  curve  along  its  whole  extent*  At  every  step,  the 
passenger  is  struck  with  new  objects  and  fine  combinations  ; 
and  what  with  the  t<^wer  of  Caerftx^  &c.  completing  the  vista 
at  the  extremity  of  the  above  side-scenery,  on  both  hands^^^ 
the  whole  '  forms  a  street-scene  of  unrivalled  rariety  and 
beauty.' " 

EbOAR.  In  what  direction  does  the  street  bend  ? 

Falk.  It  forms  an  irregular  arc,  or  a  succession  of  arcs 
with  several  centres.  A  line>  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  length, 
drawn  due  east  and  west,  subtending  the  broken  arc,  would 
terminate  at  th6  ^treme  points  of  Caerfax  and  Magdalen 
Towers. 


I  1  b  « 


.  fc 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

GomTBG.  L  wonder  that  EBprieUa^  the  tmvellerj  whose 
letters  are  written  with  so  much  spirit  and  good  taste^  as 
well  as  good  ieeUhg^  dioold  object  to  the  bend,  of  this  streetj 
as  a  defect.  For^  if  you  take  away  that  betnd^  there  are 
nHnuBtfEshle  ^tieeta  in  Biurope  that .  surpass  it :.  whereas^ 
few^  if  any,  are  said  to  vie  with  it  at  present ; — the  effect  is 
entirely  owing  to  that  accidental  drcumstance.  It  b  for 
Aiaictton,  that  such  a  street  should  never  be  seen  from  a 
high  tower^  giving  a  bird's  eye  view^-^-but  from  the  pave^ 
aieni;  mor  ahoaid  the  speetator  be  confined  to  any  one  spot^ 
though  it. presents  several  lAtcmstiQg  points;  one  particu- 
laiify,  just  Jbefoie  yon.  arrive  at  iQueen's  CoUege  on  one  side^ 
and  Univeisiiy.  College  on  the  other  $  for  the  pleasure  of 
surprise  is  given  by  the  gradual  opening  of  the  scene^  dis- 
closing ever-new  vistas.  Viewed  from  an  eminence^ 
anthing  is  left  for  the  imagination  to  ocpect,  and  the  whole 
charm  is  broken ;  whik>  to  a  person  proceeding  along  the 
pavement^  the  very  motion  ot  the  spectator  gives  the  scene 
all  the  magic  of  a  slowly-circulating  panorama* 

EAI.K.  The;(^er  j^ntrances  to  Oxford^  though  not  so 
grand^  mtt  highly  iuterestipg ;  each  is  calculated  to  excite 
emctioos  of  curiosky*  A  broad  street^  planted  with  elms^ 
9nd  skirted,  by  the  Observatory,  together  with  St.  John's 
iCoUege,  is  the  approach  from  the  north  i  while  the  southern 
entwDce  is  from  meadows,  over  three  or  foui*  bridges  to  the 
iMble  towers  and  turrets  of  Christ  Church,  mth  its  atately 
«renue  of  elms.  On  the  west  the  road  is  fcHrmed  inr  a 
cuicNis .  and  ungnlar  style  of  architecture :  an  arUficial 
causeway,  or  raised  road,  with  several  bridges  over  different 
hsa&ches  of  the  lab,  has  been  formed  through  the  level 
meadows,  for  a  fuD)  mile  in  length,  and  nearly  ii^  a  straight 
lintf. .  At  the  eastern  termination  of  this  arte  a  lofty  eofiical 
indmid^  family  :iiie-.  keep  erf  the  Castk^  with  an  ancient 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

castle-wall  and  some  modem  towers,  now  converted  into  a 
county  gaol/* 

'      Edgar.  What  extent  of  ground  do  the  whole  buiUingB 
of  this  city  occupy  ?      .         ' 

Falk.'  An  area  of  one  mile  from  north  to  south,  and 
about  the  same  from  east  to  west.  On  the  south-east  and 
west  it  is  skirted  by  meadows ;  and  on  the  north  by  com 
fields.  The  latter  side  was  formerly  gpiarded  by 
diffierent  liiles  of  fortification  :  a  bold^/oss^  at  some 
from  the  buSdings,  extended  east  and  west,  from  river  to 
river ;  and  a  lofty  Wall,  with  bastion  towers,  encloaed  the 
x:hief  buildings  of  the  city  on  the  same  side.  Tlie  city  of 
Oxford,  with  its  immediate  suburbs  and  liberties,  comprises 
14  parishes,  and  about  13,000  inhabitants,  exclusive  of 
-students. 

Edgar.  What  place  would  you  fix  upon  as  the  best 
point  for  the  subject  of  a  panorama  ? 

Falk.  To  ^ve  Oxford  completely  In  one  view,  is  the 
property  of  no  single  point  on  which  you  can  stand.  That 
which  maps  Oxford  best,  b  the  summit  of  Caerfax  Tower : 
this  stands  in  the  central  point,  at  the  intersection  of  the 
two  main  streets,  giving  a  large  section  of  High  Street  from 
west  to  east,  and  the  whole  extent  of  that  other  street, 
running  south  and  north  from  St.  Aldate's  to  St.  Giles\ 
At  St.  Aldate's  end  it  presents  a  scenographic  elevation  of 
Christ's  Church,  and  after  stretching  due  N.  W.  by  the  foot 
of  Caerfax  to  St.  Mary's  (the  Magdalen),  it  tacks  due 
north  along  the  colleges  of  Baliol  and  St.  John,  expanding 
as  it  goes  along  into  a  considerable  Tolume;  before  its 
termination  at  St.  GQes' :  at  that  extremity,  is  an  interesting 
group  of  elms.  This  extreme  point  of  Oxford  on  the  north, 
anciently  called  the  Bocaido  Gate,  b  flanked  by  the  .Ob- 
servatory, and  is  the  dividing  pdnt  for  the  two  roads  kadiog 


►     - 


•    »p 


IS 


\     •     »  . 


I    • 


•  (i-. 


DIALOGUE   UPON  OXFORD. 

Co  Worcester  and  Stowe*  This  station  of  Caerfaz  preftenta, 
besides  a  fine  prospect  of  the  sunounding  landsciq^e^  a  rich 
▼lew  of  the  schools^  St.  Mary's  fine  steeple^  with  the  Radcliffs 
dome  on  the  right  hand,  the  spectator's' face  being  supposed 
directed  doe  north.  On  the  left^  or  westward;  he  sees  under- 
neath him  the  Castle^  and  north-wes(tj  the  College  at 
Wcffcester ;  beyond  which  are  the  ruins  of  Rewley  Abbey. 

iElfrida  looking  here  towards  her  mother  with  an  inquiring 
eye^  as  Lady  Gertrude  appeared  fatigued^  the  company  all 
rose  up,  and  having  arranged  the  hour  of  starting  the  next 
morning  for  Oxford,  they  itetired'  to  their  respective  chambers 
to  rest. 

The  next  evening  they  arrived,  without  any  very  remark- 
able occurrence,  at  Oxford*  They  devoted  the  following  day 
or  two  to  refreshment  after  their  journey,  strolling  about  the 
town,  first  to  see  its  habitations  and  environs ;  viewing  alfk) 
the  difierent  prospects  near  and  dbtant  from  the  towers  of 
Merton,  Caerfax,  and  Magdalen  College,  the  leads  of  Radcliffe 
Lfibrary,  and  the  spired  steeple  of  St.  Mary's. 

11  Cortegiano  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  of  foreign 
acquirements  united  to  our  national  character :  having  not 
only  had  preceptors  of  this  country,  but  being  of  an  English 
mother,  who  had  married  a  person  of  distinction  abtoad.  So 
that,  not  only  were  his  taste  and  notions  English, '  but  he 
spoke  the  language  itself,  just  as  every  one  may  be  expected 
to  speak  their  mother^tongue.  In  the  course  of  these  rambles, 
he  had  an  opportunity  of  refreshing  his  recollection  of  all  he 
had  ever  read  and  heard  of  Oxford,  by  referring  to  the  best 
authors  who  have  written  upon  the  subject,  especially  one 
of  peculiar  liberality,  candour,  and  good  tempet,  qualities 
ever  in  the  train  of  modest  unassuming  Worth.  And  Falk- 
land remarked,  that  this  kind  of  excellence  is  the  more  rare 
and  valiiablie,  in  an  age  when  the  spirit  of  monopoly  is  so 
prevalent  among  authors,  that  out  of  every  ten,  eafch  wouM 


DIAlOGUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

smother,  if  he  could,  the  other  dine  f  just  ssthe  Dutch  do 
with  4heir  spices,  oat  of  tCB  heaps  they  bum  Dine,  ia  ofder  to 
keep  up*  the  price  of  the  xemaining  one. 

And  here  I  should  hftve  mentEoned  a  iiang  whidi  I  find 
I  haw  left  behind  me  atf  Sloogb^  and  the  veadet  siiist  poei- 
^dy  oene  back  withtne  to  Slough  nfter  it  It  is,  that  Lady 
Gertrude  and  her  ooaipany  amused  thdr  minds  on  the  road^ 
by  listening  to  EslUand's  recital  of  the  origin  of  the  Univer- 
sity. TUs  sabjeot  hegailed  the  length  of  the  jonmey  in 
those  intervals, .  when  their  attentiDn  was  not  called  off  by 
the  scenery  of  the  country  throngh  which  they  passed,  or  by 
some  other  more  than  commonly  interesting  object  on  the 
way.  They*  l»eakfasted  at  Sloughy  to  which  place  I  would 
ccrtaiiily  reoommend^thattraveller  to  go  and  breakfint,  who 
siid,  he  shoidd'ltke  to  goto  one  country,  (I  forget  whidi), 
if  it  were  only  for  the  express  purpose  of  dining  well  :-*4Hid 
to  some  other,  (which  I  forget  too),  for  the  mere  pleasure  of 
soppmg  there*  We.  brMcfasted,  then,  at  Sk>ogh;  after 
which,  having  seated  ourselves  in  the  landaulet,  where  Lady 
Gertrude  placed  Falkland  and  me,  in  the  front  seat,  and  II 
Cortegiano  by  her  side, — ^Edgar  and  ^iKlfinda  utting  of 
course-  in  the  cabriolet,  frpm  whence  they  could  join  in  the 
conversation  or  not,  just  as  they  liked.-— U  Corte^ano 
addressing  himself  to  Falkland,  with  that  inimitable  courtesy 
which  was  so  Mtund  to  him. — 

<  Aaidf  now,  most  gentle  reader,  as  we  have  gone  back  to 
Slough,>and  have  returned  with  what  we  wanted,  we  wfll 
pot  it  by,  if  you  please,  as  Ihaveno  occasion  for  it  justat 
ttkis  «noffla»t<  ^  We  will  take  it  for  a  luncheon  bye  and  bye, 
w^ienwe  shall  have  better  stomachs  for  it.  Yoo  seem  to 
beanitlering ifomelhiiig  or oAer^-and tolook sour Imd dis- 
MQlented^  But  remember  ^youarc' put  amder  my  diiedion 
fte  af  flmej  and  if  yon  are  not  ^et,  I  shiA  be  obliged  io  put 
j(mi  not'Only^ndera^st^lght  aHowance,  but  aisthoght 


DIAU)6UE  UPON  OXFORD; 

wsu^cmt.  Really  yoa  are  grown  quite  prepoateious !  How 
cflti'  yM  expwt  ever  to  get  oat  of  your  ignonmce  «t  this 
rate?«-^Aiid  your  ignoraace  is  the  only  real  eanae  of  your 
miMnieflSi 

The  disoonfaeca  the  origin  of  the  Univerntf^  lasted  for 
8^  gvedt  a  port  of  their  joom^^  that,  what  with  allowing  for 
various  intenpaptions)  from  lurroanding  or  passing  objects, 
.  &c«  and  dining  on  the-way,  it  dosed  only  just  as  they  were 
arriving  at  Magdalen  Bridge,  and  were  about  to  enter  High 
Street.  The  next  day  or  two, — but  you  have  had  this 
before.— 

Early,  then,  in  the  morning  of  the  — —  of  June,  they 
commenced  their  particular  tour  round  all  the  colleges ; 
taking  them^  according  to  a  plan  suggested  by  Falkland,  and 
arranged  and  approved  of  with  one  voice,  in  the  following 
order.  They  were  agreed,  that  it  was  unnecessary  to  view  the 
colleges  chronologically,  like  an  historian;  or,  ichnographic- 
ally,  like  the  guides.  For  the  improvement  or  advantages 
of  each,  are  not  as  their  standing;  nor  their  beauty,  as  the 
place,  (or  site),  they  may  occupy.  They  preferred  following 
a  third  series,  in  which  each  college  might  be  viewed  so  as 
to  make  it  have  its  advantageous  eflect,  single,  as  well  as  in 
concert.  And  as  they  were  all  sensibly  touched  by  the  neat, 
domestic,  and  truly  English  style  prevailing  in  the  dwellings 
of  the  townsmen,  as  well  as  in  their  looks  and  manners,  with 
much  of  the  raciness  of  the  Saxon  times  about  them,  the 
company  preferred  examining  those  colleges  first,  whose 
buildings  and  establishment  were  most  in  unison  with  that 
national  tone,  as  dear  in  itself,  as  it  is  consonant  to  every 
English  heart  They  resolved,  therefore,  to  view  these 
first:  and,  afterwards  only,  the  more  splendid  establishments 
attempted  in  the  highest  of  the  pointed  style ;  concluding 
with  those  built  after  the  ckssical  orders.  They,  accordingly, 
directed  their  steps  to  High  Street,  at  a  very  early  hour ; 


DIALOQUB   UPON   OXFORD. 

before  the  towiumea,  or  almost  the  porter  of  any  oolite, 
were  op ;  and  pleaxd  at  the  stillncsi  and  sUence  of  m  morn- 
ing, which  n^KTed  in  one  of  the  finest  aammer  days  we  erer 
witnessed;  and  admiring,  as  we  went  along,  the  effect  of 
the  shadow,  which  is  never  so  fine  as  towards  the  setting  and 
rising  sun,  we  stood  still,  about  the  middle  of  High  Street, 
directing  our  eyes  due  southward ;  when  Edgat  addreadng 
himself  to  FUldaod,  b^an  the  coovemtion  in  the  fbUowii^ 


B  i. 
s  < 
"  i 

11 


■ 


•    .!.r    :■ 


1 


was  carred  by  (innlin  Uibbons. 


<^^#^^<^»» 


EooAB.  How  stately  and  tranquil  is  the  character  of  this 
edifice.  It  is  situated  at  the  very  point  where  the  street 
takes  a  new  direction  or  sweep^  imitating  the  reaches  of  a 
magnificent  river,  which  presents  a  new  creation  at  every 
tnm  to  the  traveller. 

Il  Cortbg.  It  is  huilt  in  the  castellated  fomi)  and  is 
crowned  with  ogee  battlements. 

Falk.  This  is  University  College  :  it  extends  in  front 
260  feet,  and  you  may  observe  it  has  two  portals  towards 
the  street^  with  a  turret  over  each.  Let  us  enter  the  prin- 
cipal court  to  the  west. 

This  statue  over  the  gateway  on  the  outside,  is  that  of 
Qaeen  Anne ;  and  this  other  within  is  of  James  the  Second ; 
the  only  other  statue  known  of  that  prince,  is  in  the  court 
behind  Whitehall.  Thb  quadrangle,  castellated  in  the  man- 
ner of  the  street  front,  is  100  feet  square. 

Ladt  G.  I  like  the  uniformity  of  the  three  sides  of 
this  quadrangle,  so  well  adapted  to.  the  exterior  front ;  but 
above  all,  the  elevated  tone  of  architecture  on  the  fourth  side^ 
which  is  opposite  to  the  entrance. 

Falk.  That  handsome  range  along  it,  of  pointed  win- 
dows, belongs  to  the  Chapel  and  Hall.  Do  you  not  think 
that  oriel  window  in  the  centre,  with  the  two  canopied 
niches  under  thdr  common  pediment^  containing  the  clock, 
suit  the  genius  of  the  place  ? 

Ladt  G.  Yes :  but  I  perceive  the  Chapel  door  is  open. 

Falk.  The  ceiling  of  this  chapel  was  formerly  of  wood, 
and  in  nothing  remarkable ;  but  it  has  been  removed  for  thia 
pointed  {proined  ceiling  you  now  see.  The  Corinthian  screen 
was  carved  by  Grinlin  Gibbons. 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

Il  Cortsg.  I  wish  he  had  carved  it  any  where  else. 

Falk.  Its  form  and  workmanship  are  worthy  of  being 
othermse  appropinited* ..  (^  slmiU  have  ^kindred  receptacle. 

Il  Cortbo.  Certunly,  it  has  no  business  here. 
Mlv.  How  beautiful  is  this  basso  relievo  on  Sir  William 
Jones's  monument. 

Falk«  Flaxman  has  here  represented  our  great  oriental 
philologi0t»  formerly  of  Harrow  School  and  of  this  CoUegej 
but  Muce  chief  justice  of  Bengalj  translating  and  digesting 
the  Hindoo  laws  from  the  sacred  books  of  Vedas^  which  the 
Bn^mins,  you  observe^  are  reading  before  him. 

Edgar.  The  tigers'  heads^  I  suppose^  are  the  lemblem 
of  Bengal :  and  as  Mr.  Wade^  I  think,  elegantly  expresses 
it  ^  the  caduceusy  the  en^bleni  of  eloquence,  by  its  ma^cal 
touch,  brings  the  Hindoo  and  Grecian  lyres  in  unison.' 

Falk.  Among  other  remarkable  men  who  were  of  this 
College,  were  Radcliffe,  the  .great  bene&ctor  of  Oxford ; 
Carte^  the.  historian  $  Potter,  the  author  of  the  Grecian  Aur 
tiquitie$|  Lord  Herbert,  of  Cherbury;  Sir  George  Croke, 
chief  justice  of  England ;  but  better  known,  perhaps^  as  the 
subject  of  the  Law  Reports,  under  that  title ;  Abbot,  th^ 
arcbbidiop  pf  Canterbury ;  and  above  all,  Ridley,  the  martyr; 
though  mwtioned  last,  yet  not  the  least  of  its  worthies. 

Doctor  Johqson  was  very  fond,  too,  of  frequenting  th^ 
common  room  of  this  College.  His  bust  accordingly  is  put 
up  ihere»  al<Hig  with  those  of  Sir  W.  Jones  and  Alfred }  upon 
this  last  I  shall  9«9f  notlMUg,  as  to  its  likeness  to  the  original, 
for  wanl>  of  evidence. 

« 

lu  CoRTBG.  Of  thaty.  perhaps,  we  can  know  as  little 
as  we  do  of  the  ^*  pension  issued  by  him  to  students  out  of 
his  exchequ^,"  before  there  was  any^  exchequer  at  all, 

Falk*  I  suppose  then  you  ate  sceptical  about  Alfred's 
havii^  been  the  founder  pf  this  coUege  ? 

Il  Cortrg.  Not  in  th$  leasts  I  assure  ypu.  3o  far  from 
having  any  doubi  on  the  subject,  I  am  certain  he  was  not. 


UNIVBRSIXT  COU.EGB. 

Falk.  Williani,  archdcaoan  of  DuriiaiD^  was  the  foan- 

I. 

der ;  of  whom  we  know  little  more^  -  than  that  he  had  been 
rector  of  Weannoiith;  that  he  died  and  was  buried  at 
Rouen ;  of  which  see  he  had  been  made  archbishop^  How 
he  can  have  been  of  this  collegia,  as  it  is  said,  1  know  not } 
since  it  owes  its  existence  to  his  will,  which  was  not  per-* 
formed  by  his  executors,  till  forty  yean  after  Ids  death  ;  an 
event  which  happened  m  1 249.  But  as  no  college  whatever 
existed  at  that  time,  he  may  be  considered  as  the  first 
founder  of  one  at  Oxford;  though  in  point  of  date,  thd 
founding  and  building  of  Meston  was  prior  to  the  execution 
of  WUliam  of  Durham's  will.  Its  very  name,,  too,  makes  it 
probable  it  was  the  first. 

Ii#  CoRTB«.  I  have  read,  the  controversy  by  Smith,  with 
what  Chalmers  says  upon  it,  and  I  consur  with  you  in  opi« 
nion;  but  I  doubt  that  Alfred  created  the.  general  society, 
called  the  University  j  as  1  am  not  sure  that  any  corporate 
bodies  existed  before  the  thirteenth  century. 

FAi>&.  We'shall  advert*  to  that  more  folly  another  time* 

EnQAE*  The  dooatioti  by  William,  if  it  does  not pre^sup-* 
pose  a  collide,  created  one.  And  it  has  been  observed,  though 
the  persons  who  enjoyed  his  bounty,  were  not  a  s^iety;:  the 
persons  who  managed  and  distributed  the  fund,  were  called 
a  University,  (fts  they  are  also  in  the  very  donor'e  '^U}^  ^^ 
acted  as  such.  Smith  is.  right,  wheb  he:  says,  that  neither 
buildings  nor  quadrangles  are  of  the  esaence^of  a  college. 

Falk.  He  might  have  added,  no  toiote  aire  charters, 
benefactions,  or  any  property  whatsoever.  Property  may  be 
necessaiiyto  the  milking  a  society  a  coinplete,  substantive^ 
person  in  the  eye  of  the  lavi  and  charters,  were  subsequent 
form^  borrowed  from  the  Roman  law )  to  which  the  kings, 
in  imitation  of  the  popes,  put  their  seal;  by  virtue  of  their 
sovereign,  and  for  the  sake  of  their  Jbcal,  prerogative. 
This  college  was  the  visible  representative  qi  these  imstitu- 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

tioMy  which  before  existed  at  ccnninon  law^  previous  to  the 
fonnation  of  charters; — ^before  you  had  any  archives  to^ 
receive  them ;— or  any  records  at  alL  But  that  a  university 
existed^  beyond  time  of  legal  or  chartered  memoiy,  b  most 
certun :  as  much  as  it  is,  that  Parliaments,  or  Wittenage- 
motes  existed ;  though,  record-repositories  contain  few,  if 
any,  traces  in  proof  of  such,  previous  to  the  reign  of  John. 
This  reasoning  is  confirmed  by  Chalmers,  when  he  says, 
^^  At  what  time  this  corporation  was  completed,  is  uncer- 
tain :''  plainly,  because  it  represented  a  body,  existing  before 
time  of  memory,  whether  written,  or  oral. 

EoGAa.  It  is  remarkable,  too,  that  the  king  is  visitor; 
and  that  the  title  of  the  principal  is  master ;  that  being  the 
highest  academical  degree  for  ages,  before  the  epoch  of 
chartered  foundations.  And  it^is  admitted  by  Chalmers, 
that  Alfred  may  have  been  the  founder  of  the  University  at 
large,  though  not  of  this  particular  endowment. 

Falk.  This  particular  structure,  however,  is  not  so  very 
old;  being  erected  in  the  year  1634  only.  It  remains  now 
to  pass  into  the  hall  adjoining.  This  is  accounted  one  of 
the  finest  rooms,  in  the  pointed  style,  at  Oxford.  It  was 
begun  in  the  time  of  Cromwell ;  but  was  not  finished  till 
sixteen  years  after  his  death.  In  1 7^6,  the  fire-place,  thea 
in  the  centre,  was  removed  to  this  wall  on  the  south  :  and 
this  mantle-piece  added,  in  the  same  pointed  style.  There 
was  no  chimney  before. 

Lady  G.  (Addressing  herself  to  II  Cortegiano,  here 
observed) :  we  need  not  go  into  the  Library,  the  detached 
builduig  south  of  this  quadrangle ;  we  have  not  leisure  to 
see  all ;  more  interesting  objects  demand  our  attention 
during  this  short  stay :  we  can  survey  the  principal  and 
grand  features  only. 

Il  Corteg.  We  are  entirely  at  your  disposal. 

Falk.  Anciently,  these  Colleges  had  no  distinct  Library. 


UNIVSRgmr  COLLEGE. 

Chests  contained  the  few  Tolumes  they  possessed  j.ud  they 
met,  according  to  Anthony  a  Wood,  once  or  twice  in  the 
year,  for  the  purpose  of  delivering  them  oat ;  taking  written 
acknowledgments  from  the  borrower.  Indeed,  at  one  time^ 
they  had  not  so  much  as  a  distinct  Oratory  or  Chapel.  The 
members  of  this  College  for  a  long  time  attended  divine 
service  at  St  Mary's,  or  at  St.  Feter^s  in  the  east. 

Edgar.  From  this  usage,  perhaps,  is  derived  the  custom 
of  the  heads  of  certain  colleges  still  pfcaching  at  parochial 
churches,  on  some  set  days  of  the  year. 

Falk.  Or,  perhaps,  these  siervices  are  commutations  for 
certain  prayers,  ordained  by  certain  founders  to  be  oflfered 
up  for  the  repose  of  their  souls* 

II  0>rtb6.  Such  offerings  contribute  (equally  without 
their  being  so  intended),  ofteii  to  a  very  different  kind  of  re* 
pose,  and  still  more  lively  entertainment  of  the  congregation. 

Edgar.  We  can  go  out  through  this  passage,  on  the 
east  side,  by  the  smaller  court. 

Falk.  This  second  quadrangle,  if  it  may  be  so  called, 
having  three  indes  oidy  built  upon,  is  eighty  feet  in  length ; 
Ihe  fourtii  being  open  to  the  south  on  the  master's  garden. 
His  lodgings  occupy  the  eastern,  and  part  of  the  northern 
aide.  It  was  built  entirely  at  the  expense  of  Ratclifife ;  of 
whose  munificence,  Oxford  presents  far  and  near,  at  every 
glance  and  step,  some  grateful  memorial.  In  the  distant 
prospects  of  Oxford,  his  dome  constantly  attracts  our  oV 
servation.  It  might  have  been  inscribed  on  that  biulding  (as 
R  cenotaph),  the  words  which  are  put  up  at  the  Cathedial  of 
St.  Paul,  in  commemoration  of  Shr  Christopher  Wren :  ^^  Si 
monumenium  qtMeras  dfcumaficem*  Ratclifie,  founded 
also,  at  this  eoUege,  two  tiRveUing  fellowships,  each  with  i 
stipend  of  £500  per  annum,  to  last  ten  yeais  for  each 
successive  stipendiary:  the  first  five  years  to  be  spent 
abroad. 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Muf.  This  quadrangle  is  very  judiciously  in  the  cha- 
racter of  the  larger  one. 

Falk.  The  statue  you  see  over  the  gateway,  is  that  of 
RadcHfife;  and  the  other^  on  the  outside,  is  the  statue  of 
Mary,  consort  of  William  the  Third. 

JEdS.  It  is  as  delicate  as  filigree-work,  this  fen- shaped 
tracery,  (I  think  you  call  it),  which  adorns  the  vaulting  of 
these  gateways. 

Falk.  <'  A  great  benefactor  to  this  College  was  Walter 
Skirlawe,  Bishop  of  Durham;  though,  probably,'^  says  Chal- 
mers, **  in  a  still  more  considerable  degree  to  other  places. 
Besides  the  erection  of  several  bridges  and  gateways ;  the  re- 
pairs also  of  churches  in  his  diocese ;  he  built,  at  his  own 
expence,  a  great  part  of  the  tower  of  York  Minster,  usually 
called  the  lantern.  He  founded  a  chantry,  besides,  in  that 
church ;  erected  part  of  the  beautiful  cloister  of  Durham ; 
and  a  chapel  from  his  name,  at  some  parish  in  Holderness." — 
In  1403  he  gave  a  manor  to  this  College,  and  presented 
some  valuable  MSS.  to  the  library.  '^  He  was  bom  at  Skir- 
law,  in  Yorkshire ;  and,  it  is  said,  eloped  from  his  father's 
house  when  a  boy.  He  gained  access  to  the  University,  and 
applied  so  assiduously  to  learning,  and  formed  such  con- 
nexions, that  he  passed  successively  through  several  sees  to 
that  of  Durham.  It  is  added,  his  parents  remained  ignorant 
of  his  situation  till  he  was  bishop  of  the  latter  diocese; 
when  he  revealed  himself  and  conduced  to  the  comfort  of 
their  declining  years." 

Ladt  G.  It  is  surprising  he  did  not  reveal  himself  a 
little  earlier  in  the  career  of  his  good  fortune  ? 

Il  Cortbg.  The  story  would  hang  better  together,  if  he 
had  not  known  who  his  parents  were ;  or,  could  not  find 
them  out  before. 


\'    <  •  I      • 


B»TOM    OOIiliBOB. 


^JLF.  How  sweet  and  solemn  b  thb  grove  by  moon* 
light.  These  tall  elms  spread  their  magnificent  tracery  to  ia 
pixxligious  height,  and  yet  their  summits  reach  half  way 
only  up  the  tower. 

£j}GAR.  Are  these  the  far-famed  bowers  of  Merton  ?  Or 
rather  those  more  secluded  recesses  in  the  garden,  from 
whicbj  in  the  heat  and  stillness  of  noon,  we  contemplated 
the  prospects  south-east  of  Oxford  ? 

LiADT  G.  Or  that  other  sylvan  arcade ;  the  avenue,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  length,  of  Christ  Church  walks,  which 
seems  more  to  belong  to  this  college  ? 

Falk.  And  that  arcade  shews,  that  avenues  were  origin- 
ally an  imitation  of  the  perspective  in  pointed  architecture ; 
and  not  this  of  those,  as  Warburton  has  fancied. 

Ii..  CoRTBG.  And  fancied  more,  I  think,  with  the  eye  of 
a  poet  or  painter,  than  with  that  of  a  philosopher.  We 
know,  that  the  first  attempts  at  ornamental  gardening  (in 
the  .infancy  of  that  art),  were  barbarous  imitations  of  build- 
ings, streets,  and  cities ;  of  temples  especially ;  copying  the 
mathematical  divisions  in  architecture ;  its  vistas,  even  to  its 
▼ery  sculptured  ornaments;  such  as  frets,  labyrinths,  lovcf- 
knots,  Catharine-wheels,  stars,  &c.  &c. 

This  eastern  window  of  the  chapel  is  a  fine  specimen  of 
the  pointed  style,  worthy  of  the  place  and  building  to  which 
it  belongs. 

Falk,  it  is  faithfully  described  by  Mr.  Wade.  He 
speaks  of  these  mullions  dividing  it  into  seven  lights,  each 
light  terminating,  as  we  see  here,  in  an  enriched  cinque-foil, 
sunrounded  by  a  pyramidal  canopy^  which  is  crocketted* 

C2 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

which  was  origiDally  ibtended'  to  extend  as  for  as  Corpus 
Christ!  College.  Thus,  in  its  present  state,  the  edifice  coo- 
sbts  merely  of  a  choir,  together  with  north  and  south 
transepts,  and  this  tower.  The  tower  rises  from  the  inter- 
section of  the  transepts  with  the  choir,  and  its  efiect,  now 
we  are  close  to  it,  corresponds  to  the  expectation  it  raises 
in  so  many  of  the  prospects  of  Oxford  from  a  distance.  Its 
present  height,  hdwever,  is  in  due  proportion  to  the  structure 
as  it  now  stands/' — ^Extend  the  nave,  and  you  would  have  to 
elevate  the. tower. 

Ladt  G.  This  whole  fabric  is  so  beautiful,  as  a  speci- 
men of  the  rich  pointed  style,  that  I  should  be  sorry  to  see 
any  alteration. 

Il  Corteg.  It  would  certainly  spoil  it.  The  upper  part 
has  all  the  lightness,  as  Mr.  Wade  says,  all  the  richness  and 
elegance  of  effect,  resulting  from  a  combination  of  large 
windows  enriched  with  tracery.  Those  battlements  above 
thcsn  are  most  delicately  pierced  with  open  work,  resembling 
the  wards  of  a  key  ;  and  the  whole  is  suitably  surmounted  by 
pinnacles,  richly  studded  with  crockets  and  finials. 

Lady  G.  Do  you  not  think  that  the  eastern  window,  when 
viewed  from  without  in  the  smaller  entrance,  or  court,  wants 
height  to  produce  the  full  e£fect  of  gracefulness,  or  grandeur  ? 

Falk.  I  do ;  but  you  will  agree  with  me  in  admiring, 
without  abatement,  those  two  statues  over  the  gateway,  of 
Henry  the  Third  and  the  founder,  in  canopied  niches. 

Ladt  G.  I. regret  only  that  they  are  defaced. 

Edgar.  But,  in  strictness,  only  the  western  portion  of 
this  line  of  front,  can  be  considered  as  belonging  to  the 
college ;  for  this  is  still  a  parish  church  (of  St.  John  the 
Baptist),  as  much  as  that  other  called  the  church  of  St.  Mary 
Magdalen,  (q)posite  Baliol  College ;  which,  also,  is  a  beau- 
tiful specimen  of  the  rich  pointed  style. 

Fai.k;  But  is  that,  or  any.  parish  church,  so  scrupulously 


t    . 


'    1»- 


i  I  ft 


MERTON  COLL£G£. 

preserved  and  'welUfurnished  as  this  of  St.  John^  in  collegiate 
hands. 

Ladt  G.  Their  scrapuloasness  in  this  respect  (though  it 
could  not  protect  them  from  the  tyranny  of  visitors,  but 
perhaps,  rather  invited  and  tempted  it),  may  be  collected 
from  what  is  shewn  in  the  old  vestry  here  :  where  are  still 
to  be  seen  many  fragments  of  painted  glass,  shivered  to 
pieces  in  times  of  turbulence. 

Ii,  CoBTBG.  Or  by  the  ignorance  of  repairers,  or  the 
negligence  and  ignorance  of  some  of  their  employers. 

Falr.  This  inner->garden  court,  which  you  enter  through 
this  finely-groined  gate-way,  which  also  is  called  an  Oriel 
arch  (the  meaning  of  which  term  we  shall  find  upon  visiting 
the  college  of  that  name),  is  110  feet  in  length  by  100  in 
breadth. 

Mlf.  How  charmingly  neat  and  regular  it  is ;  and  though 
castellated,  it  has  not  the  less  a  conventual  air  for  all  that 

Falk.  It  was  built  in  1610 ;  distributed,  as  then  usual, 
into  three  stories,  with  an  embrasured  or  fret-wrought 
battlement. 

IlCorteo.  It  is  disfigured,  however,  by  that  tower, 
displaying  the  five  orders  in  hotch-pot,  over  the  further 
gateway,  in  which  we  have  the  taste  of  king  James  as  well 
as  his  eiiigy. 

Falk.  We  shall  have  a  replicate  of  just  such  another 
barbarism  at  the  schools. 

As  for  the  library,  with  its  windows  ranged  in  two  stories, 
the  upper  one  a  tripled  casement  projecting,  the  lower  one 
single,  narrow,  and  sharply  pointed,  it  is  noticeable  rather 
for  being  very  old  fashioned  than  for  any  thing  else. 

Edgar.  And  also  for  having  been  the  first  that  was 
built  at  Oxford. 

Il  Cortbo.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  hall  and  com- 
mon room,  that  they  were  the  first  precedent  in  their  kinds. 


DIALOGVE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Faul  But  this  is  not  so  extniordiBarjr  when  it  b  con- 
sidered, that  the  college  itself  was  built  before  any  other, 
and  that  it  was  recommended  for  a  model  by  one  of  our 
kings,  to  the  founder  of  the  earliest  college  at  Cambridge* 

II  CoRTEG.  There  must  be  something  more  in  it  than 
that.  Merton  is  singularly  happy  in  many  points  that  give 
it  a  peculiar  interest.    We  have  noticed  some  already. 

Falk.  There  seems  to  have  been  a  conjunction  or 
galaxy  of  bright  luminaries  in  this  college,  which,  like  the  oc- 
casion of  all  great  fortunes,  mayat  first  have  been  fortuitoos; 
if  it  be  not  attributable  to  the  wise  provisions  in  its  statutes, 
with  which  I  do  not  profess  myself  acquainted.  It  was  heie 
that  the  four  celebrated  doctors  flourished,  William  Accum, 
Duns  Soottts,  Bradwaiden,  and  Widifie,  who  were  named 
severally,  the  invincible,  the  subtle,  the  profound  doctor, 
and  the  evangelical  doctor.  The  last  communicatedA  whole- 
some light  and  warmth  to  our  religious  institutions,  that  he 
may  almost  be  said  to  have  given  a  second  life  to  them. 
And  not  to  mention  instances  of  worth  wherein  other  cdleges 
may  vie  with  this  in  the  having  produced  Hooper  of  Glouces- 
ter, the  martyr  (for  other  colL^^es  had  their  martyrs  too^  as 
well  as  their  translators  of  the  Bible,  whom  they  could  phce 
parifXMA  with  Parkhurst,  of  this  college);  men  of  science, 
also,  who  might  associate  with  Harvey,  the  discoverar  of  the 
circttlation  of  the  blood ;  dramatic  poets  and  essayists  equal 
to  Sir  Richard  Steele ;  generals  and  patriots  as  memorable  as 
Lord  Essex,  the  pariiamentary  general ;  yet  it  is  remarkable 
bow  much  more  historical  fame  depends,  especially  in  a 
scat  of  learning,  on  producing  such  patrons  of  letten, 
coUectors,  and  antiquariefl^  as  Sir  Henry  SaviUe,  Kr  lliomas 
Bodley,  and  Anthony  a  Wood :  who,  toother  with  all  the. 
illustrious  men  above-named,  were  formerly  of  this  Ck>ll^e. 
Nor  most  we  forget  Walter  de  Merton,  die  founder^  a  cde- 
biitod  prelate  and  stalesaftan  of  the  13th  century. 


Ladt  G.  Who  was  he^  pray  > — ¥a%a»  An  ecclesiastic^ 
who  after  passing  through  several  preferments^  became  chan- 
cellor of  England.  The  guide-books  say  he  enjoyed  the 
king's  confidence,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  hb  counaek. 

Il  Cortbg.  I  suppose  otherwise  he  would  not  long  bai^e 
been  chancellor. — ^Ladt  G.  Or  at  all  j;  but  go  on<— Falk, 
In  1274^  he  was  consecrated  bishop  of  Rochester,  His  death 
in  12779  was  occasioned  by  a  fall  from  his  horse^  while  fording' 
a  river  in  his  diocese.  I  should  have  mentioned  that  he  bid 
been  mginally  a  student  of  Manger  Hall. 

Edgar.  Oh  1  now  I  understand  how  Anthony  a  Wood 
sught  after  all  haVe  been  bom  in  a  hall^  which  the  guides 
say»  and  truly  enoughj  is  worthy  of  remark.  A  ball  and  a 
manger  are  the  same  thing — students  at  the  inns  of  oourt^ 
it  b  said^  eat  their  way  to  the  bar. 

Falk.  It  is  singular  enough^  that  Merton  having  the 
earliest  haU^  library,  and  common-room^  should  be  almost 
the  only  college  that  has  not  a  chapel  of  its  own^  distinct 
from  the  parochial  church. 

Edgar.  But  that  one  is  such  an  example  as  must  have 
reduced  them  to  despair  of  imitating  it ;  and  as  they  have 
the  exclusive  use  of  it  for  at  least  six  days  and  twenty  hours 
Qf  every  week  in  the  year^  they  might  in  all  reason  rest 
satisfied. 

Fai.k.  ^Ifrida,  what  has  £4gv  been  just  now  repeating 
to  you,  as  yuu  were  standing  under  the  gateway^  that  seemed 
to  give  you  so  mueh  pleasure  i 

Mlf.  He  was  repealmg  that  beautiful  passage  in  John- 
son's  Tour  to  the  Western  Isles,  which  begins,  '^  To 
abstract  die  mmd  from  all  local  emotion  would  be  iisfKM* 
sible,  &e.*' 

Ii.  Ck>rr8G.  I  remembcar  the  passage  well ;  but  alas ! 
what  has  a  college-fife  to  do  wtA  Ronnimed^  or  Marathon 
and  lona  t    Cuique  mmf  hmot.    A  man  owes  sometfaiiig 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

to  the  earliest  education  of  the  nursery,  which  is  ever  under 
the  superintendance  of  a  woman  :  much  to  the  school  of  his 
boyish  years,  which  intervene  between  the  nursery  and  college. 
Afterwards  he  is  not  a  little  indebted  to  the  greater  school 
of  the  world,  and  to  that  academy,  or  paliestra,  the  circus  of 
his  profession,  in  which  he  has  many  a  lesson  to  learn  and 
practice,  and  all  the  degrees  of  initiation  in  the  secrets  of 
business,  before  he  can  be  admitted  a  true  professor  In  his 
calling.  In  speaking,  therefore,  of  a  great  man,  we  must 
not  give  all  the  credit  exclusively  to  the  college  he  may  have 
belonged  to.  The  discipline  at  college  does  much  (that 
is,  where  it  has  its  proper  or  any  influence  at  all),  may  refine 
and  instruct  his  intellectual  fieu^ulties,  giving  him  the  key  to 
science,  and  the  implements  or  apparatus  of  the  arts  ;  but 
this  is  all. 

Ladt  G.  It  does  not  even  give  him  accomplishments— 
these  are  better  acquired  elsewhere ;  his  taste  and  talent 
tlierefore  cannot  acquire  either  their  inception  or  their  ma- 
turity here  ;  and  it  is  well  if  he  quits  it,  having  his  religious 
habits  unimpaired. 

Il  Cortbg.  Supposing  him  to  turn  out  a  good  student, 
and  to  be  influenced,  as  he  ought  to  be,  by  the  genius  of  the 
place,  the  enthusiasm  inspired  by  these  sacred  spots,  dear 
to  his  recollection  of  one  very  critical  season  of  his  life,  will 
be  to  make  him,  if  his  condition  of  life  affords  the  means, 
pefhaps  a  good  patron,  and  a  benefactor  or  founder  even  of 
colleges,  or  of  similar  institutions,  but  nothing  further. 
'  Falk.  The  influence  of  our  college  instruction  is  suffi- 
ciently important  and  respectable  to  be  satisfied  with  its  just 
claims  upon  our  gratitude  and  affections,  without  trenchmg 
upon  those  of  our  previous  and  subsequent  education. 

La]>t  G.  Not  to  mention  how  many  pass  through  their 
coarse  of  three  or  four  years  of  residence,  just  as  most 
fiuhionable  young  travellers  make  the  gnmd  tour  of  Europe, 


MERTOK  COLLEGB. 

asleep  in  k  post-chaise  !  We  may  say  eiren  of  Shakespeare,* 
(if  Oxford  lays  clum  to  every  great  man  who  has  passed  some> 
of  his  time  within  its  walls),  that  Shakespeare  at  leBSt  parsed 
through  Oxford  in  his  joumies  to  and  fro  between  A^on 
and  London  :  that  though  he  belonged  to  no  particular  hatl, 
yet  he  used  to  stop  and  sleep  at  an  thn,  and  halls  were- 
anciently  nothing  else :  the  law-halls  in  London  go  by  that 
name  to  this  day.  We  may  say  that  this  had  some  iDfluence, 
if  not  upon  his  character,  at  least  upon  some  of  his  plays, 
in  which  there  are  passages  alluding  to  this  University  where 
he  had,  in  this  manner,  passed  some  of  his  time,  at  very 
interesting  periods  of  his  life.  And  we  like  the  places  wherein 
we  have  resided  at  such  periods. 

JBlf.  Perhaps  music  has  its  greatest  effect  upon  us,  when 
it  operates  merely  as  a  recollective  sign.  Places  we  have 
been  long  absent  from,  make  a  similar  impression. 

Falk.  It  is  certainly  of  all  superstitions  and  bigotry  the 
most  pardonable,  that  of  loving  to  tread  the  spots  where  the 
great,  the  good,  the  learned  have  been ;  particularly  where- 
we  have  ourselves  passed  that  season  of  life,  when  the 
affections  are  the  most  virtuous  and  roost  amiably  dis-' 
interested.  But  the  most  rational  gratification,  in  enume- 
rating those  whom  Oxford  claims  among  its  most  worthy,' 
is  to  know  bow  they  originalfy  and  ultimately  became  so. 

Laot  G.  Speaking  of  illustrious  strangers  at  Oxford, 
there  is  one  other  circumstance  which,  in  ^Ifrida's  opinion^ 
will  place  this  College  in  the  good  graces  of  her  sex, 
and  ensure  its  special  protection,  it  is  necessary  to  notice, 
that  this  College  is  always  the  hostel,  or  inn,  set  apart  for 
the  Queens  of  England,  whenever  they  visit  the  University. 
Queen  Catherine  of  Arragon,  in  1518,  and  Queen  Elizabeth, 
in  1592,  were  entertained  in  the  hall  here  at  dinner.  Queen 
Henrietta,  the  consort  of  Charles  the  First,  resided  here  an 
entire  winter,  I  believe,  or  more.   Lastly,  in  IS]  4,  the  Queen 


DIAUX2VB  UPON  OXFORD. 

of  Wirteb^rgh,  the  Duchess  of  Oldenbargh,   aUd  her 
brother  Alesaodbr,  autocrat  of  all  the  Russias. 

Ii.  Omiteo.  I  had  rather  be  a  private  gentleman,  for  my 
pifft  I  think  a  free  subject  of  England  higher  than  an  absolute 
prince.  If  I  were  every  body's  master^  I  am  afraid  I  should 
notbemyown»  The  true  independence  for  man  is,  to  be 
ever  upon  his  good  beha?iour« — ^£i>gar.  Thai,  too,  is  the 
true  liberty. 

Ii4]>T  G.  By  the  bye,  about  common-rooms — ^you  say 
this  College  g^ve  the  earliest  precedent  of  them :  in  Cam- 
bridge they  eve  called,  it  seems,  combination-rooms  ? 

IlCortjbg.  I  cannot  guess  why.  The  first  eomroon  ■r<M)m 
here,  was  in  1661.  Chalmers  passes  a  very  just  commeidft- 
tion  upon  them ;  and  I  can  say  from  experience,  that  his 
euh%y  is  paiticiilarly  applicable  to  that  at  St.  John's  CoU^e^ 
where  I  saw  a  combination  indeed,  but  it  was  of  good  man*- 
ners,  wit,  and  hospitality ;  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  the 
learned  and  agreeable  editor  of  the  Atbbnje  Oxonisnsrs. 

Faub.  The  conversatioQ  and  manners  in  Uiese  common- 
rooms,  adapted*  as  they  are,  to  the  wcndd,  and  not  unworthy 
of  a  court,  are  a  good  substitute  for  the  old  monkish  habits, 
and  their  ridiculous,  even  childish,  sports,  one  of  which  was 
called  King  Christmas,  or,  tlie  Lord  of  Mis^rule. 

Il  Cortbo.  Such  sports  aad  recveatioos  aie  aay  thing 
but  indifiinrent.  It  is  not  to  be  told  how  mnch  eariy  asso- 
ciations in  games  and  sports^  bom  the  cmdle  upwards, 
influence  the  imagkiatton  and  passions  of  thie  boy  and  the 
grown  man.  This  point,  almost  as  much  as  any,  or  moK 
than  any,  ^uld  be  recommended  to  the  notice  of  those  who 
legMa^  OR  domestic  and  nationalr  edjicRtion. 


rorr-'BEU's  vvw. 


«•      '  ' 


•v 


.  »■» 


OBISIi    OObliSaB. 


^»»>^»^»^ 


Edoar.  This  College  reminds  me  of  University ;  with 
the  exception,  that  this  has  one  gateway  and  turret  only> 
and  that  it  faces  the  west;  while  that  has  two,  lacing 
the  north.  Like  that,  the  front  b  uniform ;  less  imposing, 
indeed,  but  of  better  proportions.  It  has  the  same  number 
of  stories  ;  lighted  by  ranges  of  windows,  in  the  same  form  $ 
and  surmounted  by  a  double  ogee  battlement  We  have 
here,  too,  the  fao-shaped  tracery,  most  delieately  wrought, 
as  in  the  portal  of  that  College. 

i£u.  But  what  means  that  upright  post,  stock  on  the 
top  of  the  ogees  ? 

Falk.  It  was  anciently  meant,  I  suspect,  to  represent 
the  cross  on  Mount  Calvary. 

Ladt  G.  This  battlement  is  by  no  means  so  gloomy  and 
•uncouth  as  that  at  University  College. 

Falk.  But  its  principal  feature,  from  which  it  derives 
its  name,  is  the  gateway  of  the  turret,  with  its  oriel  window : 
presenting,  moreover,  to  the  eye  of  the  spectator,  in  its  great 
•quadrangle,  at  his  first  entrance,  other  bay,  or  oriel  pro^ 
jections,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  court.  ''Oriel,''  says 
Wade, ''  means  a  gate,  porch,  or  portal.  This  part  of  every 
handsome  building,  was  usually  adorned  with  a  large  pn>- 
jecting  window  avet  the  entrance  :  and  hence,  all  windows 
of  that  sliape  and  character,  were  called  oriel  windows ;.  after 
the  common  figure  of  speech,  a  part  for  the  whole.  As 
French  was  the  court  language  in  IS24,  when  tfais.waa  a 
royal  messuage,  inhabited  by  the  Queen,  ittook^  and  bos 
^1)  retained  its  old  name  of  oriel,  or  oriole/' 

Ih  CoRTBG.  i  should  hate  txpeoted  a  better  explaMlion 


> 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

from  tbe  author  who  could  write  that  book ;  and  not  repetitions 
of  writers  of  Guides  de  Foyageur ;  who  are  rather  too  ibod 
of  using  that  figure  of  speeeb^  called  iAe  Hiking  a  part  for 
the  whole.  So  far  from  defining  oriel  as  he  does, — 
deriving  the  window  from  the  gateway^  and  giving  one  word 
for  another,  I  should  explain  what  the  thing  meant,  and 
derive  the  gateway  from  the  window.  Oriel  is  derived  from 
orlUony  a  French  term,  used  in  fortification;  being  that 
projecting  work  in  a  bastion,  which  is  suspended  like  a 
swallow's  nest,  at  tbe  angles^  and  over  tbe  portal  <rf 
castles }  giving  the  besieged  the  advantage,  which  belongs  to 
a  prominent,  or  goggle  eye.  (as  in  the  hare,  for  example), 
of  seeing  more  of  the  horizon,  and  of  every  object  around, 
beneath,  and  above,  than  can  belong  to  a  sunken  eye,  or  to 
an  ordinary  window,  fixed  in  the  plane  of  the  walls.  When 
defence  was  no  longer  necessary,  the  contrivance  was  still 
kept  in  use^  for  the  sake  of  airiness,  sunshine,  and  prospect. 

For  a  contrary  reason,  the  gateway  or  portal  was  the  oriel 
reversed;  being  concave  and  sunken,  as  tbe  other  was 
convex  and  prominent :  for  if  this  fell,  or  were  swept  away, 
it  was  no  great  matter ;  but  if  the  other  were  abated^  tbe 
assailants  were  in  possession  of  the  place. 

To  confirm  this  explanation  of  it,  I  need  only  refer  you 
to  the  account  given  by  tbe  accurate  and  indefatigable  Mr. 
Brewer,  as  to  the  origin  of  castellated  houses;  which,  in 
truth,  suggested  the  model  of  all  tbe  ancient  coilegiss  at 
Oxford. 

It  is  enough  to  describe  one  of  them  in  the  words  of  Mr. 
Brewer ;  and  I  ihall  leave  you  to  make  the  inference  without 
adding  a  word  more.  The  passage  is  in  page  431  of  his 
masteriy  introduction,  topographical,  historical,  and  descrip- 
tive to  the  Beanties  of  England  and  Wales. 

<'  The  buildings,  (at  Haddon  Hall,  in  Derbysbife),  sur- 
round two  paved   quadiangular  courts;   and  the  various 


ORIEL  COLLBGE. 

apartments  into  which  they  are  divided,  aee  extremely  nume- 
rous ;  however  devoid  of  elegance,  or  even  of  convenience. 
The  great  hall  J  situated  in  the  principal,  or  ontward  court, 
was  evidently  the  public  refectory  of  the  mansion':  it  has  a 
raised  floor  at  the  upper  end  for  the  baronial  family,  and 
their  roost  distinguished  guestsi  Over  one  side,  and  likewise 
over  a  screen  at  the  lower  end,  is  a  gallery,  supported  on 
pillars. 

^<  The  chief  apartment,  after  the  hall,  is  a  gallery,  110 
feet  in  length,  and  1 7  in  width  ;  occupying  one  entire  side 
of  tiie  second  court. 

*'  All  the  principal  rooms  by. the  way,  with  the  exception 
of  the  gallery,  were  hung  with  loose  arras,  and  the  doors 
were  uniformly  concealed  behind  the  hangings/'  I  mention 
this,  as  more  particularly  applicable  to  the  histoVy  of  Merton 
College. 

*'  This  spacious  edifice  comprised  within  its  courts,  a 
chapel,  having  two  side  aisles ;  in  one  of  which  were  placed, 
long  oaken  benches  for  the  domestics. 

''  The  oldest  part  of  Haddon  Hall,  a  tourer  over  the 
gateway,  on  the  east  side  of  the  upper  quadrangle,  is 
believed  to  have  been  erected  about  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 
and  the  chapel  is  of  the  time  of  Henry  VI.  But  of  the 
main  building,  not  any  part  is  of  a  later  date  than  the  sevenh 
teenth  century  :  and  the  whole  may  certainly  be  received  in 
outline,  as  an  example  of  the  castellated  domtetic  style, 
which  succeeded  to  the  declined  mode  of  acttial'casteUation, 
finally  abandoned  soon  after  the  reign  of  Richard  11/' 

Mr.  Brewer  speaks,  among  other  numerous  instances,  of 
Hampton  Coiirt,  in  Herefordshire.  <f  This  strjicture,".  says 
he,  ^  was  erected  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.  und  surrqui^ds  a 
quadrangular  court,  having  a  grand  tower  of  entrance,  in  the 
centre  of  the  principal  front,  and  a  smaller  tower  at  each 
extremity.  It  is  observable,  that  in  this  instance,  the  gate- 
way is  machicolated,  and  deeply  embattled. 


DIALOOUK  UPON  OXFORD. 

^  Qkboigfa  Hall/'  he  eoudBiies,  ^  abo  {MWnU  cvioos 
littttmcDtt  of  tbe  tlyk  ioutarive  of  casleUaiioOy  int^mized 
with  the  aoeeamodiitioiis  neoeasary  for  social  intercoone. 
Hut  buildtiigi  which  smrauiided  a  square  ooart,  was  eotoed 
by  an  cosfaattled^tower  gateway.  An  engraved  view  of  this 
is  inserted  in  Mr.  Britten's  Aichitectural  Antiqoities. 

^  Traces  of  the  same  style  of  architecture^  may  likewise 
be  observed  in  the  ruins  of  Nether  Holly  Essex :  a  iriek 
mansion^  which  originally  surrounded  a  quadrangular  conit." 

According  to  Dallawayj  ^  In  ancient  itineraries,  fins 
quent  mention  is  made,  when  describing  castles,  of  armorial 
bearings  in  stained  glass,  at  least  in  the  great  bay  window ; 
and  at  the  solenm  feasts,  moveable  tapestry  was  placed  behind 
the  high  table,  on  the  daks,  or  raised  platform  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  halls."  Leknd  ohscnred  at  Ludlow  Castle  in  Glouces- 
tershire, built  early  in  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.  windows  of 
beryl ;  by  which,  it  bjwesvmedy  he  intended  to  describe  a 
very  siqperior  kind  of  stained  glass*  Sculpture,  however 
rude,  was  admitted  at  an  earlier  period,  either  over  the 
machicolation  of  the  gates,  in  the  grotesque  figures  used  as 
water-spouts,  in  esoocheoos,  or  in  the  e£Bgies  of  some  heroic 
individual. 

The  hanging  lower  at  Constantinople,  and  the  hangiag 
bowed  window,  in  several  stories,  over  the  portal  of  Nor- 
thumberiand  Honie  in  the  Strand,  are  nothing  else  but 
•oriel  windows.  In  ancient  account  books,  we  meet  with 
the  expression  cS4k€  miel  chamber;  so  called  from  a  recess 
formed  by  a  spacious  bow  window,  reaching  from  the  ceiliiig 
to  the  floor. 

Labv  G.  One>  would,  think  we  were,  hearing  a.  d^scri|H 

tion  of  ell  the  Colleges  and  Haljs  in  OjEford ;  fb«r,andHf 
of  a  fifth,  only  excepted. 

Ih  CowRo.  Because  these  Colleges  pue  after  the  chnsical, 
or  rather  the  palatial,  ordera.    And  it  is  far  this  reaoob»  that 


OAIEL  COLLEGE^ 

yoa  have  reoommended  to  us  in  this  survey  to  take  those  last 
along  with  the  Theatre^  the  Asfaxnolenm  Museum^  the 
Printing-house^  the  Observatory,  and  the  Radclifie  library ; 
with  some  others  which  belong  rather  to  the  City  than  to 
the  University.  But  before  we  part,  I  shall  give  you  a  plan 
of  a  new  college,  according  to  my  ideas  of  such  an  edifice, 
which  will  certsdnly  be  unlike  any  thing  of  the  kind  now  in 
Oxford,  or,  indeed,  elsewhere. 

Falk.  The  rooms  in  the  turret  over  this  gateway,  are 
used  as  the  bursary,  and  also  as  the  archives  of  the  College. 
The  buildings  on  the  south  and  west  were  begun  in  1620  ; 
on  the  north  and  east  in  1637;  &nd  the  whole  quadrangle 
was  finished  about  the  year  1640.  Primate  Blencowe,  alone 
gave i^l 300  towards  it:  for  though,  nominally,  this  is  a 
royal  foundation,  it  is,  in  fact,  a  private  one.  Adam  deBrom 
founded  it :  he  was  chancellor  of  Durham,  and  archdeacon 
of  Stow,  having  also  the  living  of  St.  Mary  the  Virgin, 
Oxford.  In  the  hope  of  obtaining  the  royal  patronage  (and 
bounty  also),  to  preserve  his  infant  institution— ^o/(»it 
tine  nuOre  creo^am— which  his  own  circumstances  could 
not  afibrd  the  means  of  doing,  he  surrendered  the  whole  to 
Edward  II.  Nor  was  this  pious  stratagem  without  the  de« 
sired  success.  He  king  became  its  foster-father,  granted 
a  new  and  extended  charter,  made  an  addition  to  its  endow- 
ment, enlarged  the  society's  power  of  making  purchases, 
and  appointed  De  Brom  himself  the  first  provost.  In  the 
first  year  of  his  reign,  Edward  gave  a  spacious  building 
called  Le  Oriole,  &C, 

II  Coatjbg.  Excuse  my  interrupting  you  here;  for  I 
perceive  you  are  going  after  the  manner  of:  the  guideSv  and 
historians  of  Oxford,  to  open  the  college  rent-roll,  and  ta 
dedace  all  its  titles  and  conveyances  in  legal  order,  with  the 
listof  the  benefactors,  college-livings,  number  of  exhibitions, 
&c.  &c.    These  things  may  be  very  interesting  in  their 


DIALOGlTfi  UPON  OXFORD. 

.proper  place;  may  be  viewed  with  no  ordinary  complacency 
by  the  possessors  of  them^  and  by  those  who  derive^  or  hope 
for^  benefits  under  them.  But  the  world  does  not  feel  its 
mouth  water  at  the  description  of  such  lickorish  entertain- 
mentSy  tjiough  the  moral  to  be  conveyed  is  harmless  enough, 
no  doubt^  and  sufficiently  obvious. 

Falk.  I  shall  spare  you  then  this  gratification ;  but  as 
an  admirer  of  our  £oglish  jurisprudence^  you  will  take  plea- 
sure in  hearing  of  the  striking  instance  (recorded  by  all  the 
guides),  of  right  recovered  after  a  long  lapse  of  time.  In 
the  year  \126^  the  original  statutes  were  revived,  having 
hun  dormani  (nut  quite  deadho^ntvet),  since  the  year  1326 ; 
and  the  Bishop  of  London  was,  upon  solemn  argument, 
pronounced  not  to  have  the  power  of  visitation ;  notwith- 
standing that  he  and  his  predecessors  had  (under  a  second 
body  of  statutes),  usurped  the  exercise  of  that  power,  during 
a  space  of  no  less  than  400  years. 

Edgar.  How  neat  is  this  quadrangle  in  its  genenl 
appearance,  having  one  character  or  expression :  displaying, 
too,  on  that  eastern  side,  an  elevation  characteristic  of  the 
place.  It  comprises,  1  suppose,  the  hall  and  chapel-entrance. 
How  highly  ornamented  is  the  centre  with  its  semi-hexago- 
nal and  embattled  portico. — i£i«F.  And  it  is  advantageously 
presented  to  notice  by  an  ascent  over  this  flight  of  steps. — 
Falk.  Observe  the  roof  surmounted  by  two  small  cupolas ; 
on  one  of  which  are  painted  the  arms  of  England,  as  in  the 
time  of  Edward  II.  with  Wi^Jleurs  de  lys :  and  on  the  other, 
the  plume  of  ostrich  feathers ;  a  bearing  assumed  by  the 
royal  patron  of  this  College  as  the  first  Prince  of  Wales. 

Ladt  G.  I  am  particularly  pleased  with  those  two  niches 
terminated  by  their  coronal  canopies  enshrining  the*  statues 
of  the  second  and  third  Edward ;  and  still  more  with  that 
sculpture,  in  the  smaller  niche,  of  the  Virgin  Mary  holding 
the  child  Jesus  in  her  arms. — ^II  Corteg.  The  semi-circular 


ORIEL  COLLEGE. 

• 

pediment  crowns  well  the  centre  of  the  fa9ade,  placed  in  the 
▼an  before  that  series  of  well-proportioned  and  pointed 
windows,  flanked  on  each  side  with  a  lofty  bay  projection.— 
Falk.  The  remaining  sides  of  this  quadrangle^  three  stories 
high,  as  you  see,  are  the  buildings  for  the  ordinary  purposes 
in  colleges,  residence  of  fellows,  scholars,  students,  &c. — 
II  Cortrg.  The  double  ogee  battlement,  continued  all  along 
the  eastern  side,  is  of  a  better  style  than  that  at  University. 

Falk.  These  armorial  bearings  on  the  several  doorways^ 
are  the  arms  of  various  benefactors.  The  apartments  of  the 
provost  are  on  the  northern  side  :  the  western  and  southern 
sides  contain  chambers  for  the  rest  of  the  society.  At  the 
south-eastern  comer  is  the  entrance  to  the  chapel ;  and 
this  large  eastern  (pointed)  window,  was  the  work,  I  under- 
stand, of  Peckett,  after  a  design  by  the  ingenious  Dr.  Wall, 
of  Worcester,  to  represent  the  presenting  of  our  Saviour  in 
the  Temple. 

Lady  G.  I  am  afraid  we  have  not  time  now  to  go  in.— 
Falk.  You  may  take  it,  upon  my  word,  that  it  is  lofty,  well- 
proportioned,  and  commodious,  having  a  peculiar  neatness. 
The  great  beauty  of  the  hall  you  may  enjoy  on  the  outside, 
where  you  may  observe  its  spacious  and  pointed  windows. 
I  will  not  shock  II  Cortegiano  by  taking  him  in  to  see  a 
repetition  of  the  prevailing  barbarism  at  Oxford,  and  else- 
where throughout  England — a  Gothic  hall  decorated  with 
the  Grecian  orders ;  the  style  in  this  one  is  Doric.  Nor  will 
be,  perhaps,  break  his  heart  for  not  having  seen  three 
portraits  there  at  full  length,  that  of  Edward  II.  in  his  co- 
ronation robes ;  of  Queen  Anne,  by  DaU;  and  of  the  Duke 
of  Beaufort,  by  Soldi. — II  Cortbg.  We  can  see  these  some 
other  time. — Edgar*  I  had  rather  see  the  portraits  of  Dr. 
Joseph  Warton,  of  Scroggs,  and  Lord  Chief  Justice  Holt ; 
of  Sur  Walter  Raleigh ;  of  Prynne,  the  great  republican 
and  antiquary;   of  Lloyd,  one  of  the  seven  bishops  whom 


DI ALOaUK  UPON  OXFORD. 

James  IL  seat  to  the  tower :  all  of  whom  were  once  of  ibis 
seminary. 

Falk.  There  was  another  student  here,  whose  poitndt  I 
had  rather  see  than  that  of  almost  any  you  have  mentioned ; 
the  great  Butler,  bishop  of  Durham,  author  of  the  wisest 
book,  written  in  the  best  style,  of  any  in  the  £nglish  language. 
He  taught  the  analogy  of  government  under  Providence  here 
and  hereafter. — II  C^obtpg.  It  is  said,  however,  that  he 
murmured  at  that  Providence,  bemg,  without  any  reason 
apparent  to  himself,  about  to  die  at  no  very  advanced  age, 
and  shortly  after  having  been  raised  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of 
rank  and  power  to  do  good,  the  great  aim  and  action  of  his 
life. — Falk.  Remember,  he  was  but  a  man :  we  must  draw 
a  curtain  over  the  weaknesses  of  human  nature.— Ebgae.  I 
have  heard,  that  having  been  also  bishop  of  Bristol  for  twelve 
years,  he  expended  every  shilling  he  had  received  of  the 
revenues  of  that  see  on  the  repairs  of  its  cathedral  alone. 
But  his  Analogy  of  Religion,  natural  and  revealed,  is  the 
edifice  that  vrill  immortalise  him. 

Falk.  I  could  show  you  two  ancient  and  very  curious 
cups  here  of  silver. — II  Corteg.  Unless  Lady  Gertrude  is 
particularly  anxious  about  them — ^Falk.  The  cup  of  the 
founder  is  far  from  inelegant  in  its  shape ;  the  bruises  it 
has  met  with  scarcely  apparent.  It  is  of  silver-gilt,  and  was 
found  after  Cromwell's  time  behind  some  wainscotting, 
where  it  had  been  hid  for  safe  custody  and  forgotten.  Six 
ample  lips  project  round  its  brim :  the  lid,  studded  round  its 
edges  with  that  kind  of  open  work  which  ornaments  the 
diadem-part  of  crowns,  is  surmounted  with  a  ball  and  cross. 
The  general  form  of  it  is  that  of  the  horn-cup,  a  truncated 
cone  used  commonly  in  the  country  parts  of  England  and 
Flanders.  The  arabesque-work  which  endamasks  its  surface 
seems  elegant — ^II  Cortbg.  At  first  I  thought  the  Lombard 
signature  to  be  a  monogram,  to  express  the  three  initials  of 


1 


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AIUEL  COLLEGE. 


4       I 


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>     p  1'  I'  <,    ^'  • 
.    ^    •  ••.   ^<•c    lus   ,  :. 
.    .'    •   '»  :nT  ciiri  ■-.■  .    - 


OHIKL  COLLEGE. 

Adam  de  Brom's  Dame  ?^^Falk.  The  letter  E  io  Lombard 
capitals  is  repeated  io  several  of  the  compartmeots;  the 
initial  of  the  second  Edward^  or  of  Eleanor  his  motlier^ 
consort  of  Edward  the  First.  The  bi'eadth  of  the  base  is 
three  inches  and  three  quarters :  of  the  brim  five  inches 
and  three  quarters :  and  nine  inches  and  three  quarters  give 
its  entire  height. — ^Elf.  These  things  never  look  so  well  in 
the  original  as  in  the  engraving. — Falk.  And  that  arises 
from  the  {Pleasure  aflforded  by  imitations  of  one  art  in  another. 
Il  CoHTto.  All  pictorial  imitations  are  beautiful  per  te. 
Even  a  toad  would  make  a  good  picture* 

Falk.  We  have  now  wandered  into  the  inner  court, 
which  lies  due  north  of  the  great  quadrangle  we  have  just 
quitted.  This  additional  pile  of  buildings  on  the  eastern  side 
of  this  inner  quadrangle,  was  raised  at  the  expence  of  Hobiii- 
son^  primate  of  Armagh^  that  mnnificoit  benefiBbctor,  not 
only  to  this  College^  but  to  every  spot  he  ever  resided  in. 
Provost  Carter  gave  the  other  wing  in  1730.  This  building 
between  (which  faces  the  north),  is  the  library,  built  after  a 
design  of  Wyatt.  It  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  most 
perfect  pieces  of  architecture  in  Oxford ;  but  it  wants  the 
advantage  of  situation. — Il  Corteg.  The  fronts  with  equal 
grandeur  and  simplicity,  exhibits,  I  see,  only  the  Ionic  order. 
'^  All  the  parts  are  great  and  commanding,^'  as  Wade  says 
well,  "  the  ornaments  few ;  the  whole  harmonious.^' — Falk. 
It  contains,  among  other  subjects  of  curiosity,  a  picture  by 
Vasari. — ^II  Corteg.  Which,  I  am  sorry  we  cannot  wait  to 
see. — ^Falk.  Its  subject,  however,  is  no  less  than  a  group 
of  Italian  writers,  two  of  whom  are  great  favourites  with  you ; 
Petrarch^  Politian,  BoccaciOf  and  Dante.  There  are  also 
in  this  room  two  fine  pillars,  which'  are  much  admured.— - 
Ladt  G.  We  can  see  these,  too,  another  time. 

Falk.  The  other  curiosity  is  a  manuscript  commentary 
on  Genesis,  written  by  a  monk  of  the  fourteenth  century. 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

What  makes  it  most  interesting  to  the  antiquaries  or  monks  of 
this  age,  is,  that  the  initial  letter  of  the  dedication,  which  is  to 
Duke  Humphrey,  aurnamed  thegoodDukeof  Gloucester,  cod- 
tuns  a  curioos  illumination,  whose  subject  is,  the  author  him- 
self presenting  the  work  to  his  patron.  It  contains,  also,  aa 
autographic  memorandum  made  by  the  Duke,  of  the  mano- 
script  having  been  so  presented  to  him,  dated  at  the  manor 
of  Pukhurst.  Mr.  Warton  supposes  this  to  have  been  one 
of  the  very  books  given  by  Duke  Humphrey  to  the  Univer- 
sity, and  said  to  have  been  lost  on  their  dispersion  at  the 
sera  of  the  reformation,  and  the  subsequent  visitations,  as 
so  many  6f  the  rest  really  were,  with  their  most  beautiful 
illuminations. 

Ladt  G.  Give  me  the  reformation,  and  with  it  one 
book  only,  and  if  I  must  make  an  option  on  the  matter,  I 
do  not  care  if  you  make  illuminations,  or  even  bonfires,  of 
the  rest. 


!1 


fi 


mTADRAM    OOIiIiSOV. 


Fauu  1  am  glad  to  find  they  have  laid  opea  the  front  of 
this  College.  It  was  formerly  masked  by  an  enclosure. — ^II- 
CoATBG.  Improvements  proceed  commonly  by  steps:  for 
the  enclosure  they  have  substituted  this  very  ungraceful 
iron  palisade.  The  next  step,  I  hope,  will  be,  to  sweep  the 
palisade  away. 

LiADV  G.  I  like  the  plain  and  homely  character  of  this 
front.  It  seems  a  suburban  villa,  well  suiting  its  rural  si-* 
tuation ;  for  it  is  scarcely  in  town,  and  seems  more  con- 
nected with  the  parks  north-east  of  Oxford.  It  has,  like 
the  older  Ck>]leges  and  Halls,  a  tower  of  a  moderate  height 
orer  the  gateway  in  the  centre.  Above  is  the  bay  projection 
a  V oriels  crowned  with  a  pedifnent. 

Falk.  That  modem  building  of  three  stories,  adjoining 
the  south  angle,  was  erected  in  16M,  as  an  additional  ac- 
commodation for  the  society.  A  corresponding  wing  was 
meditated  for  the  west  ai^le,  and  a  view  of  it  was  engraved 
for  the  Oxford  Almanack ;  but  the  design,  for  a  time  at 
least,  has  been  suspended. — ^II  Coetbg.  I  wish  they  had 
suspended  the  design  of  the  first,  until  they  had  fallen  upon 
something  more  adapted  to  the  character  of  the  original 
building* 

Falk.  We  have  now  entered  the  only  quadrangle  belong- 
ing to  this  College,  but  an  ample  one,  being  1 30  feet  square. 
It  remains  unaltered  from  the  time  of  the  foundress.  With 
the  exception  of  the  external  wing  above-noticed,  the  build- 
ings of  this  College,  as  they  now  stand,  are  the  result  of 
one  single  and  entire  plan. 

Ahf.  So  much  for  a  female  endowment ! — \l  Cortbg. 
In  all  the  fine  arts,  and  particularly  in  building,  unity  and 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

entirety  of  design  are  the  first  beauty. — ^Ladt  G.  It  is  said, 
this  College  has  a  regularity  add  uirfformi^  not  to  be  met 
with  in  any  other  at  Oxford. — Falk.  Except^  periiaps, 
Exeter. 

Il  Cortxg.  Another  peculiarity  is  to  be  noticed  here,  and 
which  I  am  sure  the  younger  part  of  the  present  coBopaoy 
will  be  enthusiastic  in  their  admiration  of^  the  warden  is 
not  allowed  to  marry.    By  the  statutes,  the  warden  qinls 
his  office  on  maniage. — ^Eogar.  I  would  throw  up  the  war- 
denship,  for  my  part. — Mlf,  And  /positively  would «to^.— 
If.  CoRTBG.  Some  malicious  people  have  insinuated  diat  this 
statute  was  made  by  the  Foundress,  in  consequence  of  sone 
duuty  bachelor  ha^g  slighted  her  charms  at  the  age  only 
of  74.    We  know  that  the  slighted  Queen  Bess  used  to  flirt 
and  play  the  coquette  at  70. — ^Fai^k.  A  better  reason,  per- 
haps, is,  that  such  a  r^ulation  was  in  the  spirit  of  the 
monastic  institutions,   to  which  the  first  husband  of  the 
Foundress  was  much  attached;  and  they  are  retained,  with 
some  extension,  in  M  the  Papal  ones  to  this  day. — Ijl  CoaTBG. 
There  is  still  a  third  peculiarity  here  :  the  fellows,  after  Ae 
expiration  of  three  years  from  the  time  they  bease  to  be 
regents,  are  superannuated,  and  resign  their  fellowships. 

Mlf.  Regents  I  what  are  these,  I  never  heard  before  of 
aay  but  one,  the  Prince  Regent  ? — ^Falk.  For  a  year  or 
two  after  taking  their  degree,  graduates  are  styled  at  Oxford, 
regents.  It  is  an  additional  period  which,  by  way  of  supers 
erogation^  must  be  added  to  every  man's  standing,  over  and 
above  the  time  required  for  a  degree.  And  they  govern  the 
University  mediately  or  immediately  by  their  votes  at  elect- 
ions of  Burgesses  to  serve  in  Parliament ;  also  of  the  Chan* 
cellar  of  the  University,  and  other  officers.  All  matters  are 
conusable  at  the  smaller  or  greater  assembly  (called  congre- 
gations) eonristing  either  of  those  who  are  actually  regents 
or  who  have  been  so,  or  of  both. 


WADHAM  COLLEGE. 

Il  Cortbg*  It  is  obvious  that  this  quadrangle  .was  built 
in  the  time  of  James  the  First :  that  mixture  of  Orders  ia 
the  centre  of  the  eastern  side,  where  we  see  a  portico  (or 
dbister  more  properly)  decomted  with  the  classic  columns* 
that  medley,  devoid  of  all  grace  and  harmony,  or  fitness 
even,  may,  I  think,  be  'yclept  the  PeAm/jc  order.  The 
fulsome  taste  of  that  weak  prince  petvaded  the  style  not 
only  of  the  architects  and  sculptors,  as  well  as  the  courtien 
of  his  day,  but  even  of  the  very  lawyers  and  philosophers,  as 
we  still  see  in  the  writings  of  Coke  and  Bacon*  In  that 
monument  of  adulation  and  bad  taste,  the  internal  face  of 
the  schools  tower,  we  have  an  absolute  opoiAeoris  of  the 
British  Solomon. 

Falk.  May  it  not  rather  be  traced  a  little  higher  up^  to 
the  time  of  Henry  the  Eighth?  Henry,  we  know>  was 
flattered  into  the  belief  Aat  he  was  a  most  consummate 
scholar  and  divine.  This  royal  theologian  and  logician  stood 
forth  as  the  redoubtable  antagonist  of  Luthen  We  know> 
too,  that  not  only  Edwaid  VI.  but  his  sister  Elizabeth,  aa 
well  as  the  Lady  Jaiie  Gray ;  indeed,  generally,  the  welU 
educated  women  of  that  age,  had  more  literature  than  most 
men  have  at  present.  Buchanan,  the  historian,  and  the 
purest  modem  writer  of  Latin,  was  selected  (peihaps  hf 
Elizabeth's  advice),  to  be  the  preceptor  of  James.  Tbia 
gave  a  ftuihion  to  learning }  but  it  fidled  to  inspire  it  with 
taste  and  genius. 

Ladt  G.  I  cannot  but  think  it  was  a  great  oversight  at 
the  reformation,  that  there  were  no  Colleges  established  for 
women,  upon  the  breaking  up  of  so  many  nunneries.  These 
are  but  ill  supplied  by  public  boarding-schools  for  girls.-^ 
Falk.  And  a  still  worse  expedient  i&  the  modem  practice  of 
sending  the  daughters  of  English  Protestant  parents  to  a 
nunnery  in  Prance.-^lL  Cortbg.  The  faculties  of  the 
female  sex,  like  some  other  mines  of  hidded  wealthy  it 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

would  seem,  your  English  statesmen  have  thought  it   not 
for  the  public  good  to  let  be  explored. 

Falk.  Of  course,  as  this  is  the  only  quadrangle,  it  is 
unnecessary  to  mention  that  it  contuns  all  the  essentiai 
members  of  such  buildings  :  the  apartments  for  the  aocieiy, 
and  head  (or  warden  as  he  is  styled  here),  together  with  a 
refectory,  and  chapel.  The  two  last  occupy  the  whole  eastern 
side,  and  the  two  former  the  three  other  sides.  It  has  besides 
a  common  room ;  and,  lastly,  a  library  at  the  n<xthem  angle 
projecting,  as  the  chapel  abo  does^  into  the  garden.  We 
will  go  into  the  HalK 

Ladt  6.  Really  this  hall  is,  in  embellishment  and  sixe^ 
equal  to  its  reputation ;  how  large  is  it  ? — ^lf.  Edgar  is 
stepping  it  to  measure.-— Edgar.  It  is  7^  feet  in  length,  by 
35  in  breadth. — ^Lady  G.  Those  are  beautiful  little  por- 
traits of  Charles  the  First  and  tps  Queen.— Ii.  Cortbg.  You 
will  meet  with  portraits,  bustSj  or  statues  of  Charles  the 
First  in  almost  every  College  in  Oxford,  and  sometimes  all 
three^  with  replicates.    It  is  not  that  he  endowed  this  Uni- 
versity; for  none  of  the  Stuarts  had  economy,   the  true 
fund  of  endowments. — Faui,  Charles  the  First  resided  here, 
which  has  been  equivalent  to  many  endowments,  though 
his  residence  at  the  time  cost  the  Universitj  much  of  its 
moneys  and  I  believe  all  its  plate. 

Il  Cortbg.  His  misfortunes,  too,  especially  when  viewed 
through  the  mist  of  party,  have  given  a  tragical  interest  to 
hb  character;  as  Vandyke,  hb  portrait-painter,  has  shed  a 
saint-like  grace  upon  the  lineaments  of  his  face.  A  meek- 
ness and  a  majesty  have  been  superadded  to  hb  countenance 
and  figure,  not  to  be  recognised  in  the  early  acts  of  hb 
reign,  or  by  those  who  knew  hb  temper  and  person. 

Edgar.  Hb  apologbt^  also,  David  Hume,  has  raised  a 
lasting  monument  to  his  memory,  in  his  History  of  Eng- 
land.   And  as  Charles's  scheme,  the  original  cause  of  all 


WADHAM  COl^LEGE. 

his  misfortanes,  was  to  govern  wkboiit  Parliaments,  in  the 
French  mode,  Hume  found  it  necessarjr  to  make  it  the 
morale  or  borden  rather,  of  that  song^  his  History  of  Eng- 
land, to  disparage  and  vilify  parliaments,  which  he  has  done 
in  every  page  of  his  book.  But  whether  under  the  name  of 
Wittenagemote  or  any  other  great  counsel  of  the  nation, 
this  country  never  has  been,  and,  under  God,  I  trust  never 
shall  be,  governed  otherwise  than  by  parliaments. — II  Cor* 
TB6.  Hume's  real  model,  as  of  all  the  Stuarts,  was  not  the 
Englbh  but  the  French  monarchy.  Thb  is  the  real  hero  of 
his  book ;  and  the  Stuart  scheme  is,  at  bottom,  the  real 
poi&t  of  union  between  the  Roman  Catholics,  the  Sceptics, 
and  a  certain  class  of  Amateurs  and  Antiquaries;  but  in 
particular  of  those  who  prefer  the  French  monarchy,  taste, 
manners,  and  temper,  to  the  English. — ^Falk.  Hume  had 
even  the  hardihood  to  run  a  parallel  directly  between  Charles 
the  first  and  our  Saviour  !  For  what  sanctuary  will  not  a 
sceptic  proftme  ? — II  Cobtbg.  He  did  not  believe  in  our 
Saviour;  and  having  in  his  works  (published  during  his 
life^time)  shaken  the  belief  of  many  in  that  point,  he  left 
for  posthumous  publication  a  Treatise  of  Atheism,  in  what 
are  called  hb  Posthumous  Dialogues.^^FAUi.  It  must  be 
allowed  the  transition  is  natural,  if  not  unavoidable,  as,  I 
think.  Dr.  Clarke  has  proved. 

Yet  thb  man '  s  works  are  held  up  as  models  to  our  youth, 
and  have  infested  our  libraries  for  now  70  years,  along  with 
those  of  Voltaire,  and  since  of  Gibbon  1  But  let  it  not  be 
imagined  £6r  one  moment  that  Oxford  can  be  tempted  by 
the  serpent-subtlety  of  Hume.  It  has  spoken  truth  in  the 
face  of  Kings,  Popes,  Protectors,  fanatical  mobs  and  their 
leaders.  Oxford  always  follows  the  nation.  Tkrra  Fiuus 
says,  shrewdly,  it  ever  is  of  the  surer,  or  saving,  side.  It 
does  not  lead  the  spirit  of  the  nation,  hni  foUatvs  it ;  though 
sometimes  it  meets  with  the  same  variation  that  there  b  in 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

the  mariner's  compass  itself:  or  in  the  sun-dial, 
alternately  faster  and  slower  than  sidereal  time. — II  Cortbg. 
Oxford  has  a  consitutional  vis  inertiw  against  all  ehanges. 
EspRiBtLA  remarks,  that  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  lin- 
gered last  here  on  quitting  England.  Its  chqiels  still  reteiii 
pictures^  statues,  and  some  relics  even.  Its  fellowdiips 
enjoin  celibacy ;  and  I  have  heard,  thongh  I  do  not  voacb 
for  the  truth  of  it,  that  there  is  a  usage  pretty  nearly  taotar- 
mount  to  ofiering  up  prayers  for  the  dead. 

Falk.  That  picture.  Lady  Gertrude,  which  you  are  con- 
templating, is  the  portrait  of  Wadham,  the  husband  of  the 
foundress.  He  was  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  Wadham'a, 
in  Devonshire.  He  had  once  projected  such  an  establisle 
ment  as  this  to  be  founded  at  Venice,  for  the  benefit  of  his 
Roman  Catholic  countrymen.  But  some  friend  diverted 
him  from  that  design*  '^  By  this  accident,''  as  Mr.  Wade 
prettily  remarks,  '^  Oxford  saved  this  fur  jewel  in  her  crown 
of  Colleges.''  But  Wadham  did  not  survive  to  execute  faia 
munificent  design  himself.  This  duty,  with  the  means  of 
performing  it,  devolved  upon  hb  widow  Dorothea,  a  daugh* 
ter  of  Lord  Petre.  She  obtained  the  royal  licence  necessary 
for  the  foundation  from  James  the  First,  in  161 1.  In  three 
yeais,  all  the  buildings  were  completed  at  the  eiqpense 
(plate,  and  purchase-money  of  the  site  ^£"600,  included) 
of  j£l  1,960 :  the  whole  of  which  was  defrayed  by  the 
foundress. 

Il  CoHtr^.  I  understand  there  is  in  the  common-rooiti 
an  interestnig  portnut  of  Bishop  Wilkins,  warden  of  the 
College  during  the  interregnum.— ^Falk.  Yes,  the  founder 
of  the  Royal  Society. 

MisW.  There  again  I  so  much  for  an  establishment  under 
the  auspices  of  a  woman! — ^II  Corteg*  The  Muses,  and 
all  the  Virtues,  as  well  as  the  three  Graces,  were,  according 
to  the  wisdom  of  the  ancients,  feminine.    And  cvei  since 


WADHAM  COLLEGE. 

the  time  of  Eve,  when  man  fell  below  his  former  state 
and  degree,  woman  is  unquestionably  the  nobler  being. 
Decidedly  women  are  the  best  patients,  and  almost  the  onty 
Christians. — Falk.  Poets  and  lovers  indeed  place  them  higher 
than  men,  and  call  them  angels. — II  Cortbg.  Let  us  com- 
pound the  matter,  and  allow  them  to  be  neither  men  nor 
angels,  but  something  between  the  two. 

Fai.k.  That  is  the  portrait  of  Lord  Clarendon ;  and  this 
of  Harris,  the  philosopher,  of  Salisbury ;  the  other  of  Sir 
Arthur  Onslow,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons. — Labt 
G.  Every  one  can  distinguish,  at  sight,  the  portraits  of  King 
William.  They  are  almost  as  numerous  as  those  of  the 
Charles's. — 1l  Corteg.  And  for  a  reciprocal  reason. 

Mhv.  Let  us  walk  into  the  garden,  which  seems  prettily 
laid  out  in  the  modem  style.  That  fine  pointed  window  of 
the  Chapel  corresponds  with  this  other  of  the  library,  both 
which  buildings  I  see  project  uniformly  into  this  garden. — 
II  Corteg.  These  mullioujed  windows  of  the  anti-chapel, 
headed  with  tracery  and  these  ornamented  niches,  are  very 
beautiful.  But  it  is  larger  than  the  Chapel  itself,  and  their 
plans  stand  at  right  angles  to  each  othe^. — Fai:.k.  Yes ;  but 
passing  that  over,  observe  it^  five  large  and  handsome-pointed 
windows,  with  a  buttress  between  each,  ranging  along  its 
northern  and  western  sides,  where  a  9till  larjger  one  of  the 
same  form  nearly  fills  up  the  eastern  end.  From  the  angles 
of  this  end,  the  buttresses,  of  cpnsi(|^f^blfe  depth,  project 
diagonalfy,  and  are  carried  up  in^o  lofty  pinnacles,  enriched 
with  crockets. 

The  interior  is  spacious  and  well  proportioned.  In  any 
other  place  the  lateral  windows  would  attract  attention,  but 
here  it  is  absolutely  fixed  "  by  the  superlative  beauty  of  the 
great  eastern  window,  filled  by  B.  Van  Linge,  with  the 
glowing  representations  of  our  Saviour's  history." 

The  library  is  a  large  and  elegant  room,   containing. 


DIALOGUE    UPON    OXFORD. 

Moeog  other  treasures,  vtij  numerous  specimens  of  earlf 
typography :  and  in  ptrticular  the  Shakespearean  collection, 
comprising  every  edition  known  of  our  national  poet*  and 
every  individual  piece  illustrative  of  them. 

Beudes  'Wilkms  abovementiooed,  this  College  has  to 
boast  of  Sprat  and  Walsh,  the  poets ;  of  Harris  and  Bmt- 
ley,  the  great  philologist  and  still  greater  critic ;  of  Admiral 
Blake,  the  glory  of  England ;  and,  lastly,  of  Sir  Christopher 
Wren,  who  raised  a  monument  worthy  to  peipetuate  tiiat 
glory  in  St  Paul's. 


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ST.  JOBU'S  OOIiIiBOfi. 


liAjyt  G.  Well !  I  agree  with  the  author  of  the  Letters 
of  Espriella ;  if  Oxford  required  any  management,  to  give 
strangers  a  prepossession  in  its  favour^  he  should  be  intro- 
duced first  to  this  College. — ^I  shall  never  forget  the  im- 
pression Oxford  made  upon  me,  when  entering  it  on  the 
side  of  Woodstock.    The  heart  b  immediately  captivated 
by  the  retired  domestic  air  of  St.  John's ;  having  a  terrace- 
walk  in  front,  shaded  by  a  lofty  clump  of  elms.    1l  Cortbg. 
— ^These  venerable  trees  were  planted  in  Queen  Elizabeth's 
time;   in  the  year  1576,  which  makes  them  nearly  250 
years  old.     The  vegetable  creation  have  an  almost  anti-dilu- 
vian  length  of  life :  there  are,  or  have  been  trees  in  Oxford, 
whose  number  of  years  amount  to  twice  or  thrice  that 
*  age. 

JEjjf.  The  front  of  this  College,  I  see,  is  decked  with 
the  oriel  window,  projecting  between  two  canopied  niches. 
Above  the  oriel,  I  perceive  a  third  niche,  of  richer  work- 
manship, contmning  a  statue. — Falk.  It  is  the  statue  of  St. 
Bernard. — Ix,  Corteo.  But  in  the  first  mention  of  this 
College  to  a  stranger,  whose  ears  are  nice,  you  will  do  well  to 
suppress  the  name  of  the  parish  in  which  it  is  situated.  For 
though  St.  Giles'  is,  at  Oxford,  the  court-end  of  the  town ; 
matters  are  precisely  reversed  in  Ijondon. — Falk.  That  very 
same  St.  Giles,  however,  the  saint  to  whom  this  parish  is 
dedicated,  always  afiected  sequestered  spots,  and  suburban 
sites. — II  Corteg.  It  may  be  so : — but  I  am  sure  it  is  long 
since  he,  or  any  of  his  brethren,  of  a  similar  taste,  have  been 
seen  in  London. 

Falk.  This  first  quadrangle,  part  of  the  eastern  side 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

excqited^  is  the  very  original  edifice  which  Chichele  dedi- 
cated to  St.  Bernard^  in  1437.  It  contains,  as  nsual,  the 
hall  and  chapel ;  together  ^th  the  pn^dei|t's  lodge  ;  and 
those  of  the  fellows,  students,  &c.  The  two  first  are  on  the 
north :— the  second  on  the  east : — and  the  two  la^  ^-l!he 
south  and  western  sides.  These  buildings,  you  see^  aie  em- 
battled ;  and  if  some  of  the  windows  had  not  been  mo- 
dernized ;  and  if  we  could  also  get  into  the  delicious  garden 
they  have  here,  without  passing  through  the  seeoad  quad- 
rangle, we  should  be  content;  theie  would  be  nothing  left 
to  desire  in  collegiate  architecture.  But  there  is  no  avoid- 
ing the  second  court,  which  we  must  now  enter  by  this 
passage,  on  the  eastern  side  of  this  first,  in  the  centre. 

This  second  court  was  built  in  the  year  1635,  from  a 
design  of  Inigo  Jones.  It  is  quaintly  observed,  that  this 
was  almost  his  first  and  last  performance  at  Oxford*  The 
plainness  of  the  northern  and  soathem  sides  is  contrasted  with 
the  splendid  ugliness  of  this  light  arcade,  having  round  stilts 
for  classic  pillars,  tottering  under  a  top-heavy  parapet  of  two 
stories,  embrasured.  Between  these  windows,  of  the  nar- 
row-pcnnted  double  kind,  under  square  heads,  you  may 
observe,  there  runs  a  moulding,  charged  with  a  series  of 
sculptured  heads ;  while  knots  of  foliage  and  blossomage  are 
arranged  under  the  tier  of  windows  in  compartmen|s.  As 
a  specimen  of  good  allegory,  (a  thing  by  the  way  always 
nauseous  in  sculpture  and  painting,  nor  is  it  much  relished 
in  poetry),  these  eight  busts  are  placed;  which,  unless  I 
told  you  of  it,  you  would  hardly  divine  to  represent  Refigion, 
the  four  Cardinal  Virtues,  and  the  three  Christian  graces.-^ 
Edgar,  As  if  these  three  last  did  not  comprise  the  other 
five. — i£LF.  Let  us  escape  into  the  garden  as  fast  as  we 
can. 

Falk.  This  gateway,  pierced  through  the  eastern  side, 
will  conduct  us  into  it. — Lady  G.  How  loaded  with  sculp- 


ST.  JOHN'S  COLLEGE. 

ture  It  is.    Thn  statue,  of  course,  is  Charles  I.  and  the 
corresponding  one,  also  of  bronze,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
court,  is  Henrietta,  his  Queen.— Il  Coetsg.  The  statues 
have  merit;  they  are  the  best,  perhaps,  that  I  have  seen, 
of  that  Prince  and  his  Ck>nsort. — ^Falk.  Yes :  they  were 
executed  by  Fanelfi,  a  Florentine  artist.    During  the  civil 
wars,  they  were  taken  down,  and  concealed  or  buried  alive, 
to  preserve  them. — Ih  Cortbg.    I  wish   they  had  taken 
down,  and  buried,  this  nanrderous  composition  of  a  gateway ; 
having  on  the  ground  plan,  first,  the  Doric  order,  in  double 
columns^  to  correspond,  I  suppose,  with  the  arcade ;  next, 
double  columns  of  the  Ionic ;  above,  a  semi*circular  pedi- 
ment of  Corinthian  columns^  bearing  on  its  tympanum,  a 
gaudy  armorial  coat,   surmounted  by  one  of  Charles  U.'s 
turgid  crowns.    Let  us  escape  after  Lady  G.  and  her  youth- 
ful company,  into  the  garden. 

Mlt.  This  side^  however,  of  the  College,  which  fronts 
the  garden,  is  not  disfigured  by  a  portico.  It  is  in  the  cha- 
racter of  that  front  which  faces  the  street.— Ladt  G.  I  am 
delighted  with  those  fine  bay  windows,  of  delicate  work- 
manship, supported  by  brackets  of  sculptured  stone.— 
Falk.  Elach  window,  you  may  observe,  has  its  pediment ; 
while  a  battlement  ranges  along  the  intervening  spaces* 
The  uoper  stories  of  this,  and  the  southern  side  of  this 
second  quadrangle,  form  the  Library. — ^Elf^  You  can  tell 
us  all  about  it,  without  turning  us  out  of  this  sweet  garden. 
It  is  a  perfect  paradise. 

Falk.  Well  then — in  the  Library,  Archbishop  Laud 
entertained  Charles  the  First  and  his  Court,  Prince  Rupert, 
the  Elector  Palatine,  &c.  magnificently,  according  to  the 
taste  of  that  day— or  the  historian  of  it. — Ih  Corteg.  Yes : 
and  I  am  tdd  they  had  the  Christian  patience  to  sit  out  a 
whole  play  afterwards  performed  by  the  students. — Edgar* 
They  did  more  than*  that  $  for  they  actually  adjourned  to 

£ 


DIALOGUE  URON   OXFORD. 

Christ  Choich,  md  there  sat  out  another. — Ladt  G.  SmA 
instances  of  magnanimous  oompiaisaneey  especially  aa  tbef 
have  never  happened  since,  ongfat  certainly  to  be  recorded ; 
but  give  us  the  intellectual  dessert  of  that  room^-^FALK. 
Besides  the  books  and  MSS.  of  Archbbhop  Laud,  this  Libraiy 
contains^  among  other  things  of  curiosi^  and  inteicat,  some 
paintings  on  copper  of  the  Apostles,  by  Carlo  Dolce  ;  a  mi- 
niature portrait  of  Charles  the  Flnt,  beautiAdly  esecuted ; 
anotlier  of  his  queen ;  a  collection  of  Greek,  Roman,  and 
English  coins;  some  curious  missals  ;  and  a  book  of  prayer ; 
at  the  end  of  which  is  a  manuscript  account  of  the  last  nM>- 
ments  of  James  the  flnt.— SaGAm.  Was  it  for  wasit  of 
pi^r  that  the  writer  inserted  it  tluae  ? — II  Cortbg.  Yon 
forget  that  James  was  a  $eoot9d  Sotomon  ?—Falk.  Laatly, 
there  is  a  fine  picture  of  St  John  the  Baptist,  the  patron  of 
this  College,  said  to  be  after  Titian,  and  by  some,  after 
Guereino.— Edgab.  Artists  not  often  mistaken  far  eadi 
other,  I  think^-^Ii.  Cortbg.  No— and  therefore  we  nsay 
doubt  whether  this  was  the  production  of  either.  Certainly 
no  one  ever  yet  saw  a  picture  of  Titian's  that  looked  iSce  oae 
of  Guercino's — or  one  of  Gnercino's  that  resembled  one  of 
Titian. 

Laj>t  G.  But  in  speakuQg  of  the  patron  of  this  eolk^, 
you  must  not  forget  to  tell  us  who  was  the  founder  }«^Faijl. 
The  founder  was  Sir  Thomas  White,  Lord  Mayor  of  Londoo  ; 
bom  in  1492,  at  Reading ;  at  the  age  of  twelve^  bound  ap- 
prentice in  London.  Upon  the  slender  stock  of  jtlQOp  whick 
his  master  bequeathed  to  him  as  a  testimonial  for  ten  years 
of  faithful  service ;  out  of  this  sum^  added  to  'another  stfll 
more  slender  bequeathed  to  him  by  his  own  father^  ke 
made  such  a  fortune^  that  (besides  various  charitable  dona^ 
tionsy  of  which  the  archives  of  several  laj^  towns  besur 
record}^  he  was  enabled  to  found  thb  College.  The  fbun* 
datbn  was  principally  for  the  benelBt  of  the  MerohanlTayloes' 


ST.  JOHN'S  CQLLKGE. 


School^  wlien  he  had  been  educated.  He  left,  by  will,  fo 
his  College  several  thousand  pounds,  hmag  endowed  H  with 
very  considerable  aaanors  before. 

Of  the  iUttstrtous  men  here,  bcmdes  Land  and  Juzon 
(whose  remains  are  interred  in  the  vauH  adjomiog,  under  the 
ehapel),  this  College  lays  claim  to  Sir  James  Wbitloche, 
Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench,  and  Sir  Bulstrode 
Whitlocke^  also,  the  annalist;  who,  though  one  of  Cromwell's 
lords,  could  not  be  brought  to  be  active  in  the  prosecution 
of  Laud,  from  a  gmteful  lemembianoe  of  many  favours  he 
had  received  Drom  him  while  at  college.    Add  to  these, 
Dillenins,   the  botanical  professor  in  this  College,  when 
linnieus  visited  him :  also  Dr.  James,  the  inventor  of  the 
celebmted  powders,  whtcfa  go  under  that  name. — ^Eooab. 
But,  Campian,  the  Jesuit,  was  also  of  this  College;  and 
George  Martin,  the  principid  tnmslator  of  the  Bheimish 
Testament;  and  the  zealot Rawlinson^-^FAU.  True;  biM 
these  names  are  redeemed  by  the  olhers,  and  many  more,  -to 
which  we  may  add.  Sir  John  ifarriiam''s,  the  ehronologer, 
whose  learned  preface  has  been  pronounced  one  of  the 
finest  compositions  in  ils  kiqd.— JSdoar.  I  think  it  would 
make  anexceUent  and  valuable  book  in  .this  age  of  collections, 
an  assortment  of  weH-wvitten  prefaces. — II  Cortbo.  Yes ; 
always  the  best  part  of  a  book,  and  never  read.    It  is  univer- 
sally passed  over,  and,  therefore,  such  a  book  woul(i  be 
perfectly  new,  and  the  same  thing  as  unedited,  or  anecdotal. 
Falk.  We  must  place  in  a  class  by  themselves,  Sfr 
Joseph  Aylifie,  the  antiquary,  and  pace  horum  dixerim 
another  Titan,  calling  himself  Tbrr  je  Fiuus';  whose  pub- 
lication, two  volumes  duodecimo,  price  14s.  came  out  iti 
oombers,  like  its  cotemporaries  the  Spectators,  Tatlers, 
and  Guardians.    If  we  could  only  blot  out  two  papers  in 
them,  the  author  might  fiairly  be  compared  with  the  Steeles, 
the  Swifts,  and  Addisons  of  that  day.    What  was  then  a 

b2 


DIMiOGUfi  UPON  OXFORD. 

just  satire  agaimt  the  Univemty,  would  now  read  as  a 
panegyric,  so  aJterad  for  the  better  is  it  since  the  time  when 
Terra  Filius  was  written.  It  is  the  I>est  picture  of  die 
charactprs.  and  manners  of  the  principab,  fellows,  scholars, 
and  students  of  that  day,  that  is  to  be  met  with.— Edoar.  I 
JMD  extremely  anxious  to  know  what  became  of  the  author  1 — 
Fauc.  I  have  inquired,  but  as  yet  ineflfectually :  I  under- 
stand, however,  that  his  career  was  unfortunate — ^too  often 
the  fale  of  piecocious  talent. 

Something  we  must  say,  however,  of  Dr.  Rawlioaon,  a 
^eonsidemble  benefactor  here )  were  it  not  that  from  pique, 
prejudice,  or  both,  he  excludes  from  any  partidpation  ia  Atf 
bounties  the  members  of  the  Royal  Socie^,  and  the  Society 
of  Antiquaries,  as  well  as  aU  natives  of  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
His  heart,  enclosed  in  an  urn,  he  left  as  a  further  benefaction 
to  this  College.~iSLF.  Such  a  heart  was  not  worth  fae- 
questhing,  Aat  even  in  death  could  be  so  unforgiving.— 
JbABT  G.  Of  offeocesy  too,  that  f>erhaps  were  ima^ary. — 
Ih  CoarrBO.  If  a  man  is  to  make  a  legacy  of  a  heart,  he  had 
better  leave  a  sound  one. — ^Falk.  He  ordered  lus  body  to 
be  deposited  in  the  adjoining  parish  church,  one  of  its  hands 
supporting  an  empty  skull. — II  Cortbo.  He  may  be  said 
after  all  to  have  carried  his  heart  in  his  hand. — ^Falr.  This 
sknW  he  conceived  to  be  the  head  of  one  of  his  party,  who 
bad  been  executed,  and  whose  head  had  afterwards  been 
fixed  upon  a  pole  at  Temple  Bar.  It  had  been  accidentally 
.blown  off,  and  he  purchased  it. — ^II  Cortbg.  It  is  said,  the 
salesman  imposed  another  head  upon  him,  thinking  it  wouM 
do  as  well. — ^Falk.  Of  the  four  heads  concerned  in  the 
transaction,  it  is  hard  to  say  which  had  most  brains  in  it — 
II  Cortbg.  I  think  the  College  need  not  regret  that  Dr. 
Rawlinjson  did  not  bequeath  to  it  that  noble  part  of  himself. 
I  hearj  that  the  coffin  of  this  precious  christian  had  two 
shells,  one  of  lead,  enclosed  in  another  of  oak,  iriiich  he^ 


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ST.  JOHN*S  COLLEGE. 

omtnottsly  enough,  ordered  to  be  covered  witii  Russian 
fea/Aer*— LaDy  G«  This  kind  of  covering  b  much  m  vogue 
at  present  w^th  ou^  bibliomaniacs.-— Falk.  Thej.  may  he 
said  to  be  embalmed  in  Russian  sere-clolh  during  dieir 
Ijfe*i:ime. — ^II  CoaTSo.  Yes ;  and  that,  like  the  mummies  of 
old,  their  brains  are  previously  extracted  through  the  nose. 

Falk.  ^Ifrida,  can  you  bear  taking  leave  of  this  garden, 
every  part  of  which  1  think  you  have  explored  this  morning 
at  least  half  a  dozen  times  ?-*£jlf.  I  could  pass  my  whole 
life  in  it.^— Falk.  This  garden  had  formerly  a  terrace,  a 
mount,  an  arbour,  and  a  wilderness,  which  attrseted  every*. 
Sunday  the  Oxford  people  in  great  swarms.  It  has  been 
modernised  since  in  the  charming  way  you  now  behold  it, 
and  it — ^II  Cortbg.  has  of  course  been  deserted. 

Falk.  Yes ;  such  is  the  public  taste.  This  ehapel,  as 
is  the  case  with,  I  believe,  two  or  three  only  in  all  Oxford, 
is  supplied  with  a  choir.  It  is  less  singular  and  anonmlous 
in  having  a  Corinthian  altar  and  screen  set  up  in  a  building 
of  tiie  pointed  orders  But,  determined  not  .to  be  outdone,  or 
equalled  in  another  r^espect,  it  has  over  the  altar,  a  piece  of 
tapestry  copied  from  one  of  Titian's  pictures,  in  which  the 
artist  has  modestly  Intruduced  himself,  together  with  the 
kings  of  France  and  Spun,  under  the  characters  of  our 
Saviour,  with  the  two  disciples  at  Emmaus* 

Ladt  G.  The  eastern  window,  put  up  here  in  the  reign 
of  James  the  First,  I  have  heard,  cost  j^^ISOO.^Falk.  Yes. 
In  the  president's  hou^  a  crosier  is  preserved  of  the  most 
eiqant  form  and  w<M'kman^hip ;  after  the  manner  of  the  ara-. 
besque,  and  inferior  to  no  specimen  in  that  kind.  It  is  of  black 
ebony,  beaded,  and  infoliated  with  silver.  The  centre  of  the 
coiled  part|  whether  it  may  represent  the  flower  or  fruit  of  the 
euphorbiumy  I  know  not ;  probably  of  that,  or  of  some  other 
plant  or  tree  in  Palestine ;  but  it  shews  clearly  the  origin  of 
the  fleur  de  fys.    It  shows  as  clearly  abo  that  the  Roman 


DIALOGUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

and  Egyptian  /ttamtwas  the  origin  of  the  cnwier^  orpntanl 
staffs  carried  in  state  before  bishops  and  mitied  abbots  ia 
Aft  Latin  church;   but    in  the  Gieeky    appropriated  to 
patriarchs  alone*    When  home  before  bidiops^  the  iace 
of  the  crosier  was  turned  ootwaids— when  before  abbots, 
it  was  inverted.    They  also  held  it  in  their  hands  while 
pronoondng  the  solemn  benediction  over  their  flock.    The 
lower  extremity  diminishes  always  to  a  sharp  point,  and  is 
the  hook»  or  utilf^t,  as  the  coiled  bead  u  the  crook  of  the 
ancients.    This  is  expressed  in  the  Latin  line^  ^^  Curva 
trmhii  fnHes,  pars  pungii  acuta  rdkelluJ*    Hence  the  true 
meaning  of  the  proverb^  bjf  hook  or  bjf  crooks    The  croeier 
of  St.  John's  is  six  feet  one  inch  high.    It  was  found  in  a 
garret  among  some  old  lomber. 

Thu  hall,  which  we  can  just  step  into^  was  the  original 
refectory  of  St.  Barnard* — ^Ladt  G.  It  is  sparions  and  well- 
pvoportioned.  The  wunscotting  is  very  neat ;  as  are  that 
stately  chimney  piece  of  variegated  marble,  and  that  screen 
of  Portland  stone.— Falk.  Those  are  the  portiaiti  of  Land 
Mid  Juspn :  this  of  Sir  Thomas  White^  the  founder. 

Hie  common-room,  you  will  conceive,  from  my  repre- 
sentation of  it,  to  be  a  noble  room  worthy  of  a  palace.  And 
its  possessow^  with  all  the  uibantty  and  courtesy  of  palaces^ 
have,  what  is  not  ao  often  to  be  met  with  there^  wit  withoat 
malice,  good  breeding  without  a£GBetation,  and  unbought 
hospitality.  It  would  be  invidious  to  name  any  living  autboc 
amoDg  them,  in  addition  to  the  foregoing  list  of  those  who 
have  distbgoished  and  ennobled  this  College.  We  most 
osserve  that  gtatefal  task  for  posteri^. 


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y\'i    \'  '•*-,    ' 


■«■ 


BAIilOIi   OOIiIiEOB. 


Il  Coktbg.  I  never  was  more  disgusted  wiUi  the  folsome- 
nesa  of  monumental  inscriptions^  and  the  adulatcNy  spirit 
towards  public  benefactors^  than  in  the  epitaph  of  Fisher, 
at  this  College.    This  qpitaph  is  shorty  a  very  unusual  thing 
in  modem  times  |  the  fault  in  it  thertefore  is  the  more  inex- 
coseable.    Yet  the  authors  of  it  have  contrived^  in  the  space 
of  four  words  ooly^  to  commit  still  a  breach  of  decorum^ 
and  a  profanation  of  the  titles  of  the  dead^  the  only  pos- 
session left  to  them,    Fbher  had  been  asked  by  some  toad- 
eater  what  inscription  he  would  have  on  his  tomb.    In  a 
surly  and  peremptory  tone^  being  a  rough  man^  he  loared 
out — *^  FisHBu/*  adding,  in  Latin^  <'  not  a  word  more/' 
TbiSf  in  the  sense  he  meant  itj  and  in  his  lips,  was  simple  and 
noble.  But  think  of  their  literally  inscribing  the  words,  vjbr* 
BOM  KON  AMPUUS,  FisHAR,  OH  his  monumcDt  I  The  guides 
one  after  another,  repeat  this  Miise  as  a  very  fine  thing. 

The  Mertonians,  in  a  monument  to  Sir  Henry  Saville, 
at  Roeh^ter,  have  expressed  not  only  his  merit,  but  their 
oana  disinterested  gratitude  to  a  benefactor.  This  is  as  it 
should  be }  it  must  be  pleasing,  on  every  account,  to  a  good 
mind.  But  the  inscription  is  as  long  as  one  of  the  King's 
speeches,  at  least,  on  opening  Parliament.  Mr.  Fox  pro- 
nounced a  labored  eulogy,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  to 
the  memory  of  the  late  Bishop  of  Downe ;  but  what  spirit 
of  double  adulation  could  possess  the  common  friends  of 
both  to  inscribe  every  word  of  it,  long  enough,  for  a  debate, 
on  his  tomb  I 

Fauc*  a  f«ry  eloquent  writer  has  noticed,  by  way  of 
eMtiast  to  this  bloated  taste,   die  simple  epitaph  of  the 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

effeminate  Sardanapalus,  inscribed^  by  his  own  directioDs, 
on  his  tomb : 

''  I  built  two  laige  cities  of  Asia  in  one  day;  and  all,  that 
remains  of  me^  is  in  this  narrow  tomb." 

Il  Cortbg.  a  personj  the  subject  of  a  great  kingdom, 
who  had  been  despaired  of  in  his  youth,  as  incapable  of 
coming  to  any  good,  and  as  such,  had  by  his  masters  been 
returned  to  his  parents,  was  sent  to  a  distance,  and  in  a 
course  of  years  rose  by  successive  promotion,  to  the  very 
first  station,  that  of  Supreme  Judge,  and  afterwards  of  gover- 
nor, in  one  of  our  greatest  colonies.  He  ordered,  at  his 
death,  the  following  verse  to  be  engraved  on  his  monument: 
'^  The  stone  which  the  builders  rejected,  became  the 
head  stone  of  the  comer/' 

The  story  of  Joseph  is  more  pathetic ;  but  does  it  con- 
vey a  more  striking  moral  of  the  ways  of  Providence  to 
human  beings,  even  in  this  present  world  ? 

Falk.  But  we  must,  for  ^Ifrida's  sake,  approach  this 
College  with  a  certain  tenderness  and  courtesy,  for  we  have 
here  another  female  foundation  and  endowment.  The  Col- 
lege of  Dervorgille  (widow  of  the  King  of  Scotland's  lather), 
foundress  of  Baliol,  b,  you  must  know,  under  .XUfnddt 
special  protection, — Edgar.  And  every  one's  protecdon  and 
favour,  for  Wicliffe  was  Master  of  Balioh  Here,  tbetefofe, 
the  first  reformation  was  brought  safely  to  birth;  here, 
too,  did  its  noblest  first  ofispring  breathe  his  last ;  the  very 
stone  at  or  near  this  gate,  was,  not  long  ago,  distinguishable 
whereon  Cranmer  was  martyred. 

Falk.  That  stone  has  been  removed,  or  is  made  no 
longer  distinguishable ;  I  know  not  where,  nor  how,  nor  by 
whose  order,  or  permission.  But,  if  it  has  been  since  the 
French  emigrants  came  here,  I  should  not  be  surprised  if 
that  harmless  stone, — the  inoffensive  memorial,  rather  of 
what  virtue  can  sufier  than  of  what  bigots  can  inflict,  ahoold 


BALIOL  COLLEGE. 

be  yet  replaced;  or  ifj  in  liea  of  it^  a  magnificent  cross 
flhoold  be  erected^  to  marlc  the  last  spot  that  prophetic  mar- 
tyr toaohed  befioce  he  was  snatched  up  into  Heaven. 

Il  Co&tbg.  It  is  certainly  since  the  year  1/95  that  the 
then  decayed  and  almost  extinguished  spirit  of  the  Roman 
Catholie  superstition  has  been  revived  in  England.  And  it 
is  become  the  only  mot  tbt  established  religion  of  Ireland. 
More  than  one  College  of  Jesuits,  who  are  its  body-guards, 
have  been  agun  introduced  there.  The  followers  of  that 
religion,  who  were  only  connived  at  before,  are  now  admit- 
ted by  law  to  the  higher  ranks  in  the  army  and  navy.  This, 
too,  is  the  more  extraordinary,  as  both  events  took  place, 
I  believe,  under  the  administration  of  Mr.  Peel  ? 

Falk«  So  far  from  that  being  extraordinary,   such  is 

the  ttsjual  and  the  only  pouible  way  in  which  these  things 

can  be  brought  about.   I  do  not  know  whether  the  following 

stato^maxim  be  in  Machiavel,  but  it  may  be  deemed  not 

unworthy  of  a  place  in  his  works : — '*  If  in  a  Ptotestaat 

realm  you  wish  to  concede  any  thing  to  Roman  Catholics, 

as  in  Ireland,  left  it  be  done  when  the  Secretary  for  Ireland 

is  reckoned  their  most  determined  opponent ;  for  this  will 

calm  the  fears  of.  Protestants,  who  will  neither  see,  think, 

nor  dfeam  of  any  dinger ;  or  will  be  easily  reconciled  to  the 

measure.    If,  on  the  other  hand,  you  dare  not  concede  every 

thing,  however  you  may  wish  it,  (for  they  are  good  subjects, 

that  is^  disposable  tools  in  the  hands  of  ministers),  you 

should  refuse  their  petition  when  the  Secretary  for  Ireland 

is  reckoned  to  fovour  the  Roman  Catholics;  for  this  will 

take  off  the  asperity  and  bitterness  of  their  disappointment." 

Il  Corteg.  Will  emancipation,  as  it  is  called,  be  finally 

conceded  to  them  some  time  or  other  ? 

Falk.  Whencrver  politicians  and  financiers  dare  concede 
it,  I  think  it  will ;  I  say  dare,  for  they  cannot  but  know  that 
this  realm  b  essentially  and  fundamentally  Protestant.   This 


DIALOGUE   UPON  OXFORD. 

is  OMNiifiett  ttom  the  vmf  ouumers  of  the  people;  k  n 
wrought  thfougfaout  die  whole  tisaoe  of  their  stitate  and 
common  law.  The  genios  of  our  people  fats  ener  beeo^  ni 
ALL  A0BS5  IVotettinti  even  wbeu  they  weie^  nommalfyi 
Roman  Catholic.  However,  a  state  hioks  for  po<wer,  good 
smbfocis,  and  refenae.  Such  is  the  modem  itatistioal  mmiia. 
It  loves  Fkotestants  very  well,  thoi^  it  loves  good  suljeds 
better.  But  a  good  sabjeot  is  like  a  good  soldier:  a  man 
who  will  do  what  he  is  bid,  without  asking  or  undentandiBg 
the  reason  of  it.  A  commander  in  chief  is  not  a£ratd  ol 
a  Roman  Catholic  either  keeping  or  breaking  his  religioui 
ddigatioDs,  if  he  minds  Us  officerg'  orders :  and,  in  expe- 
rience, it  is  found  that  he  will  do  this,  making  «p  hb  amar 
with  the  priests  afterwards  as  well  as  he  oan*  This  is  what  is 
called  a  good  sobjeot.  Now  a  statesman  and  a  financier  look 
no  further.  I  think,  therefore,  (but  I  matter  it  with  horror), 
thait  the  Roman  Catholics  will  be  emancipated,  as  it  is  oatted; 
that  is,  that  their  disabilities  will  be  removed;  in  other 
words,  that  the  established  religion  is  to  be  repealed. 

Some  leaders  of  opposition  foresee  that  such  a  revolution 
in  the  chureh  will  produce  one  in  the  state.  But  in  pro* 
posing  the  measure  they  intend,  perhaps,  only  to  embanass 
Government ;  knowing  that  it  will  negative  whatever  moves 
ftom  the  oppositmn.  If  they  fail,  theiefore,  they  have  the 
consdation  that  government  is  thereby  uopopulsr  with  a 
numerous  and  powerful  class,  whom  bdth  wish  and  int^d 
to  gain  over.  If  they  succeed,  they  run  away  with  ail  the 
popularity  of  llie  measure.  I  have  considered  the  aiguments 
of  this,  and  that,  statesman  of  both  parties,  and  all  that  I 
can  make  out  ftora  tfieir  reasoning  is,  that  each  leader  would 
have  no  objection  to  our  all  becoming  Rcmian  CatboMcs 
to-morrow,  provided  you  make  Aim  Fbnr.  It  is  downright 
idiotism,  to  suppose  that  we  should  have  had  all  this  hubbub 
about  emancipation  for  forty  years  past,  or  should  have  even* 


BALIOL  COLLEGft. 

heud  ftny  mie  expiess  a  wish  or  thought  about  it,  if  states-. 
men  and  finaadeis  had  not  been  all  the  while  stkring  at  the 
bottom. — II  Co&tbg.  They  have  now  got  to  the  top  of  it^ 
if  the  report  be  true ;  that  it  is  at  hst  to  be  earned  as  a 
cabinet  measure,  some  time  or  other. 

Ladt  G.  Such  a  revolution,  it  makes  one's  soul  sick  to 
thiidc  of — ^let  us  turn  our  thoughts  to  the  College  now 
before  us. 

Falk,  No  part  of  this  building,  as  it  now  stands,  is 
older  than  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Sixth.  The  peculiar^ 
beauty  of  its  principal  gateway,  under  an  embattled  tower, 
(the  most  ancient  too  of  all  our  College  towers,)  was  much 
admired,  it  seems,  by  Wyatt.  Immediately  over  the  arch- 
way, as  usual,  between  two  niches,  with  their  highly-en- 
riched canopies,  is  suspended  an  oriel  window.  In  the  upper, 
story  of  the  tower,  between  two  narrow  windows,  is  a  third 
niche :  this,  as  well  as  the  two  former,  being  vacant ;  over 
the  gate,  is  the  escutcheon  of  the  De  Baliol  iamily* 

It  is  well  observed  by  Mr.  Brewer,  in  spite  of  Dallaway's, 
prepossession  for  the  two  modern,  and  not  inek;gant,  build- 
ings added  to  the  old  structure,  that  they  set  at  defiance  all 
"'  AmpJNgr  with  it.''-4i.  Cobtbo.  What  is  worse,  they  have 
ao  keeping  with  each  other ;  they  are  not  in  the  same  plane> 
not  having  their  line  of  direction  common.  It  is  pbin  they 
were  built  not  only  at  different  periods,  and  in  a  difia^nt 
taste  from  the  venerable  old  fabric^  but  from  each  other. 

Falk.  It  is  time  to  enter  the  quadrangte :  this  court  is 
120  fieet  long,  and  SO  broad.  The  front  of  the  hall,  in  aH 
the  simplieity  of  its  original  beauty,  as  formed  in  Henry  the 
Sixth's  time,  occupies  principally  the  weslon  side:  the 
remainder  of  that  side  is  allotted  to  the  master.  This  bay- 
window  in  the  front  of  bis  lodgings,  displays^  as  Mr.  Wade 
says,  the  exqmsite  taste  and  skiH  of  English  architects  300 
years  ago.<— Laot  G.  It  is  erabently  beautiful  I— II  CoRmo. 


DIALOQUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

It  18  in  the  finest  florid  manner  of  tbe  pointed  style. — JElf. 
The  carved  inteisections  are  light  and  delicate. — Falk.  The 
northern  side  is  taken  up  wholly  hy  the  chapd  and  fibraiy, 
and  IS  well  finbhed  o£f  by  this  embattled  parapet.  Tlie  gnat 
entrance  to  the  chapel  in  the  centre  b  decorated  in  character. 
Thb  plain  front  on  the  east  was  constructed  in  the  eighteenth 
century;  the  chapel^  as  I  have  already  observed,  300  yean 
ago. 

Ladt  G.  Fine  as  are  the  paintings  of  tbe  other  windows, 
thb  great  eastern  one  far  outshines  them.  *'  It  has/'  as  Mr. 
Wade  observes,  "  a  glowing  ridiness  and  brilliancy  of 
colouring,  which,  it  is  sttrprising,  three  centuries  have  not 
been  able  to  impair.'' — ^Falk.  From  the  records,  Baliol  takes 
the  third,  6r  according  to  some,  the  first  place  of  precedence 
in  the  order  of  foundation. 

Il  Coutbo.  a  few  yean  ago,  Wyatt  restored  the  interior 
of  the  library ;  but  in  a  manner  that  shewed  him  to  be  a 
perfect  master  in  the  pointed  style  As  Mr.  Wade  prettily 
observes,  *'  Wyatt  has  made  the  library  a  fit  casket  far  the 
literary  treasures,  of  which  it  b  the  reporitory/' 

Falk.  The  hall,  though  of  the  pointed  style,  as  yon  see 
on  the  exterior,  has  been  modernized  as  to  its  interior,  <'  but 
in  a  plain  and  temperate  manner."  It  shews  among  its  plate 
a  large  tankard,  formerly  belonging  to  ^'  the  Man  of  Boas." 

Thb  College,  besides  the  great  names  alreacfy  mentioned, 
has  to  boast  of  the  good  duke  of  Gloucester,  as  one  of  its 
benefactors :  of  Tiptoft,  earl  of  Worcester,  an  encourager  of 
literature  in  the  reigns  of  the  sixth  Henry  and  fourth  Edward ; 
he  was  one  of  the  earliest  Englbh  writers  who  employed  die 
press  of  Caxton. 

It  numbers  also  among  it  worthies.  Dean  Colet,  of  St. 
I^iul's  School ;  Tunstail,  bbhop  of  Durham,  <^  a  prelate  of 
great  power  and  influence;  but,"  as  Mr.  Chalmer'S  continues, 
^'  these  were  so  tempered  with  humanity,  and  dignified  by 


BALIOL  COLLEGE. 

learoiDg,  thftt^  although  he  was  an  opponent  of  the  Reform- 
atioDy  he  tnust  be  placed  at  an  honourable  distance  from 
the  Bonoen  and  the  Gardiners."  Erasmus,  Dean  Colet, 
linacie^  and  Sir  Thomas  More^  emulate  each  other  in  their 
encomiuois  of  him.  Not  are  Wharton^  Pit,  and  Camden  silent 
on  his  memory. 

Ldnacre  himself  was  of  Baliol ;  also  Evelyn ;  Chief  Justice 
Popham ;  the  chief  barons,  Davenport  and  Atkins. — ^II 
CoRTBG.  Mention  only  in  these  enumerations  those  judges 
and  bishops  who  were  also  great  men.  For  all  the  judges  and 
bishops,  in  evei^  successive  generation,  were,  no  doubt,  of 
tome  college  or  other,  as  well  as  an  infinite  number  of  men 
in  office^  of  authors,  &c.  together  with  a  large  part  of  the 
peenge  and  commonalty. 

Falk.  Subject  to  that  restriction,  which  I  think  fair  and 
reasonable,  (indeed  any  other  would  be  impraeticable  in  the 
limits  of  this,  or  almost  any  conversation),  I  mention  with 
pleasure  Douglass,  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  whose  enlightened 
orthodoxy  has  been  a  spear  of  Itburiel  to  the  insidious  scepti- 
cism of  Hume.    Now  I  have  named  Huiiie,  it  reminds  me 
that  Parsons,  the  Jesuit,  was  of  this  College,  and  Dr.  Adam 
Smith,  the  sceptic  in  political  economy,  as  in  every  thing 
else.    He  was  a  maker  of  systems ;  a  trade,  by  the  bye,  he 
learned  in  France,  from  whence  he  brought  his  tools  and 
materials.    Being  undoubtedly  a  man  of  tdent,  he  set  about 
domg  his  best  to  overturn  our  Universities  and  church,  as 
well  as  our  political  economy,  our  public  education,  trad^ 
agiictthure,  colonies,  and  very  parliament— in  sh<tft,  he  was 
nationally  hostile  to  whatever  was  English.    This  was  the 
return  he  made  to  Oxford  for  receiving  him  as  exhibitioner 
from  Glasgow.    For  there  are  exhibitions  here  to  scholars  of 
the  Scotish  nation,  '^  that  there  might  never  be  wanting 
in  Scotland  some  to  support  the  ecclesiastical  establishment 
of  England  f  *  these  are  the  very  words  of  the  donor.    There 


DIALOGUE  VPOK   OXFORD. 

tt  sn  addhioiial  endowment  m  fiftvoor  of  Giaggom  in  pnti- 
cular^  and  Dr.  Adam  Smitk  was  one  of  these.  There  is 
eTsn  a  tiiird  exhibition  for  four  Scotisfa  schelan,  wSardmg 
to  each  of  them  a  stipend  of  jdOO  anonally  for  ten  jeais. 

EooAE.  Who  was  John  de  BalioU— Falk.  He  wis 
father  of  the  king  of  Scotland,  and  at  the  same  time  one  of 
oar  most  c^mlent  and  powerful  barons  in  the  reign  of  the 
third  Hemy :  one,  also,  of  that  monarch's  most  devoted 
adberenti.    He  was  the  fooitii  in  descent  from  Gay  de  Baliolj 
who  came  into  England  with  William  of  Normandy,— 4d 
whom  RttfoB  made  a  grant  of  the  forests  of  Teesdale  and 
Marwood,  as  well  as  of  the  rich  lordships  of  Middleion  sod 
Gaifisfortl^  in  the  coanty  of  Darfaam.    John  de  Baliol's 
residence  was  at  Bernard  Castle,  in  the  veiy  centre  of  his 
large  possessions.  Before  his  death,  in  1269,  be  had  intended 
to  found  this  College  <m  the  plan  of  that  of  Walter  de  Mo^ 
ton,   then  recently  finished;    bat   death  frastratmg  this 
intention^  it  devolved  on  his  widow,  Dervorgille,  daoghter 
of  Alan,  lord  of  Galloway.    The  realising,  or  not,  tUs 
intention  of  her  hasband,  was  left  to  her  option.    And  she 
fulfilled  it. 

The  library  in  Anthony  a  Wood's  time,  bdbre  it  was 
plundered,  was  the  very  best  in  the  UntTersity. 

Mlv.  O  !  rare  Balbl ;  so  much  for  the  btessiog  diat 
fidls  down  upon  the  endowmrat  of  a  woman ! — ^Ii.  Cobtbo. 
But  what  is  the  reason  of  a  provision,  which,  it  seems,  is 
peculiar  to  this  female  endowment,  that  the  beads  of  this 
College  choose  their  own  vuitor? — ^lf.  I  suppose,  becaose 
it  is  a  wise  woman  only  that  can  dioose— *who  is  to  b?  ha 
master. 


ciaASscff  ivoHB  ooi*ht,C'.:. 


^  ^  ^  ^    *  ^^^ 


••    .    \\V^\Ui\iui     .   ',>t  1    '!♦::.    'Pi's  '    I  «i*«i'f  •    '    * 
i  tl'p      ■  •      br..  *••    •  >o  <»1   r    .-.:.  km-!.  ,    i  >}  1 

.     :V*.   lii^'  pr^    '.  .■  •   .1   \\\  X-  ^    »».jf. — Ii.  (  ,-•  .Kr.  V.  •>!  •{. 

'..  ;';•  v'j'iiik'lcs,  »»■  •.*  J--  .'-.c  '.  V  .  •  '  .  '*  }  CI  *.  vr  :•  i'.;! 
t' .♦  !i»v.roi*  Dam*;*  '*."--  •  '  »-.  J.  •  j  «.  puit  (  i;.i'-:  -^^w^ 
i    '.'i.  Ui.i    ^•'-*    '%<»r',  t     J.i**  •    .1  \  :;  !••:>*•••.-— h.  Co'.; .  i%r.   Tn  a-i 

ri*.  n;  but  i:j»?  m  *t  ^*  i  ;••''  '•  •  ^  v  ».  '.  thi  **'  ••  •'.•,!••.  .-.••il, 
Ar*j  i!  o  jj.'^n-s*  *»  *  *(•»'•• !  "* .  .1  ."  ^'  '.  •  •  "^  *.  '  «•* 
th»    t«;up-h:'l»   . -jj-^    ;;-•*    ••'   ..   cv.-r     . .''.       *        •' *    \\A\  a 

.^  i  Iui<'  r-. ?•».«■»,»••  out  ••         ••:''»•  >/eat  ^^''^y?  i«'''i» 


».f 


.  >  t!ji!  no!i^,  ur  any  fi'.r  •      w<:  1  •  *  K 

li.  !r  the  hitter  is  ili'»  .*    •-.  ••    *J'** 

-    '^  vigilant  r  :  a  nja«  .    • 


>i  ^  I 


BKABBir  WOftB  OObftBaB. 


^^^i»i^r^^» 


L«ai>yG.  Wfatt  MBorr?  appellation  is  tbis  ?  I  bare  heard 
of  longs  and  tbroafe  of  brass,  also  of  brazeti  looks,  and  I 
bave  seea  fronts  of  that  metal ;  but  I  never  jet  beard  of  a 
nose  of  brass,  excq»t  in  4ommo  at  a  Biasqiierade.**«FALKw 
Copper  noses  are  not  so  unusual ;  we  see  many  joyous  spirhs 
whose  noses  might  vie  with  that  metal,-— EiioAm.  This  loolcs 
more  like  the  proboscis  of  an  elepbant.«^lL  ComTBO.  Whldi 
gentleman,  by  the  way,  was  the  inventor  of  oiasks.-*— Falx^ 
In  the  Canticles,  there  is  the  expression,  *'  her  nose  is  like 
the  tower  of  Dafliasciis/''*«£LV»  For  my  part,  I  must  own, 
I  tfhomhl  be  sorry  to  hive  such  a  aose.*^lL  CoaxBO.  In  all 
ages,  the  pablie,  high  and  low,  has  been  a  great  lover  of 
fun.    At  Basle,  some  ages  ago,  Ae  Austriabs  had  plaiKied 
to  take  the  citadel  by  treachery,  having  corrupted  the  gar- 
rison ;  but  the  plot  being  discovered,  the  town  was  preserved, 
and  the  garrison  hanged,  whidi  is  so  £ur  reasonable.     But 
the  town-hall  clock  has  been  ever  since,  adorkied  with  a 
colossal  head,  which  indicates  the  quarters  of  hours  by 
thrusting  a  long  tongue  out  of  its  mouth  a  great  way,  Ic^og 
it  from  side  to  side,  and  leering  with  its  eyes  very  roguishly. 
This  laudable  and  patriotk:  jeu  €PesprU  may  give  some  idea 
of  the  state  of  the  arts  at  Basle. 

Falk.  In  the  Cyclopean  temples,  they  had  an  eye  wliidi 
never  slept,  carved  on  the  tympanon  of  their  temples  |  and  I 
do  not  see  why  this  feature  might  not  just  as  naturally  be 
lifted  up  from  the  face  and  dropped  down  again  by  way  of  a 
knocker,  as  fbe  nose,  or  any  other  fixture  about  the  bead^ 
—Lady  G.  tf  the  latter  is  the  emblem  of  sagacity,  (he 
^mer  is  of  vigilance :  a  much  better  emblem  of  a  pcnter. 


DIALOGUE   UPON  OXFORD. 

Edgar.  I  think  a  pair  of  lantern  jaws  would  be  still 
more  significant. — J£lf.  Or  a  good  ear. — II  Cortbg.  For 
more  reasons  than  one)  he  had  better  be  wkhout  any  jaws, 
mouth,  or  ears  at  all. 

Falk.  Tliis  reminds  me  of  a  story  told  concerning  Penn, 
the  founder  of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  an  Oxonian  by  the  way. 
At  one  time  of  his  life,  he  was  much  embarrassed  with  debt ; 
and  occupying  a  house  in  Norfolk  Street,  he  was,  of  course, 
denied  often  enough  to  the  never*ceasing  Ams  who  rapped 
at  his  door.  There  was  a  bay  (or  oriel),  window,  which 
enabled  Penn  to  see,  without  being  seen,  which  of  his  friends 
it  was  that  intended  him  the  honour  of  a  visit,  and  be  at 
home  to  him,  or  not,  accordingly.  One  day,  a  stiff  quaker, 
who  had  called  for  the  hundredth  time  to  no  purpose,  said 
at  last  to  the  porter,  with  some  vehemence,  ^^  Will  not  thy 
master  see  me  then  at  all  ?" — *'  Friend/'  replied  the  porter, 
whispering  him  closely  in  the  ear,  '^  my  master  hath  seen 
thee— and  doth  not  Kke  thy  company.'' 

Lady  G.  But  what  does  this  huge  nose  over  the  gateway 
mean  ?  I  really  should  like  to  know  before  we  go  any  further. 
Il  Cortbg.  Mystery  is  like  a  nut ;  there  is  a  plcssure  even 
in  the  cracking  of  it^  though  when  it  is  cracked,  you,  per- 
haps^ find  no  kernel  in  it. — ^Falk,  Halk  were  very  numeroas 
formerly :  Wood,  or  Heame,  I  believe,  reckon  up  no  less 
than  300 ;  these  had  some  of  them  very  fanciful  names,  as 
glazen-hall,  from  being  the  first  which  was  accommodated 
with  glass  windows,  or  from  having  a  superabundance  of 
them.  Other  names  were,  mutton-hall,  physic-halt,  gutter- 
hall^  &c«  Chimuey-hall,  was  the  name  of  one  dbtinguished 
from  the  rest,  which,  so  far  from  having  a .  fine  chimney- 
piece,  had  no  chimney  at  all ;  as  was  the  case  with  this 
very  College  we  are  now  at :  until  Lord  Curzon  presented  it 
with  that  beautiful  one  you  will  see  presently,  which  is  much 
admired.    The  students  warmed  themselves  as  well  as  they 


BEAZSN  NOSB  COLLEGE. 

could^   by  a  wood-fire,  lifted  up  on  the  centre  of  the 
floon-^EoGAR*  Just  as  they  did  in  the  Middle  Temple  Hall, 
in  Londont  tiU  the  other  day^ — Falk.  Surnames  of  hoasee,  as 
well  as  of  persons,  were,  in  monkish  times,  often  nick- 
names originally,  (or  corrupted  into  such  from  the  similarity 
of  the  sound) ;  as  from  a  man's  complexion,  and  accidental 
drcnmstances ;  thus,  John  iiaokland,  William  Rufus,  Edwanl 
Longsbanks,  &c«    Very  learned  antiquaries  have  discovered, 
that  in  all  likelihood  the  gate  of  this  College  had  a  huge 
brass  knocker,  which  the  woiicmen  of  that  day  chose  to 
make  in  the  shape  of  the  head  of  some  formidable  animal,  as 
is  the  case  on  most  of  the  doors  of  houses  at  present  even*- 
II  Corteg.  If  you  employ  a  child,  or  a  bad  paiater  or 
sculptor  (like  those  in  the  infancy  of  any  art,  of  whose  skill 
we  have  abundant  specimens  even  at  Oiford,  especially  about 
the  cloisters),  to  represent — suppose  a  lion's  head,  it  is  a 
hundred  to  one  but  he  will  make  it  more  like  a  man's  head 
than  a  lion's.  He  nose  and  mouth  are  the  advanced  features 
in  the  face  of  brutes,  which  have  none  of  them  any  chin ; 
while  their  eyes  ase  placed  obliquely  at  the  aide  of  their 
faces  instead  of  the  front  of  it,  as  in  ours :  and  as  bad 
artists  make  men  look  like  brutes,  so  they  make  brutes  not 
unlike  men ;  this  being  the  only  occasion  where  their  por- 
traits aeem  to  think.    Perhaps  there  was  here  some  such 
attempt  at,  say,  a  lion's  (or  a  bear's)  head,  in  which  the 
wags  q{  those  days  observed  an  unlucky  cesendblance  to  one 
of  the  principtds  or  fellows,  or  of  some  merbed  omhi,  who 
sported  a  nose  of  more  than  usual  dimensions  in  lengdi, 
br^th,  andelflvatkxi ;  and  who,  besides,  in  using  his  handi^ 
kefcbief  (if  th^  had  handkerchiefs  in  those  days,  abont 
wUch  the  MSS.  and  Wood  are  silent),  made  a  more 
than  ocdinvy  report,  like  the  snorting  of  a  horse,  a  (riieno-^ 
menon  that  might  startle,  no  doubt,  the  moat  sleepy  porter, 
ts  much  as  any  post-boy's  horn,  or  cracked  trumpet. 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

Falk.  I  think  we  have  now  sufficiently  eiihaiisted  thb 
preliminary  topic  of  antiquities ;  and  it  is  time  to  enter, 
after  having  made  this  offermg  to  a  College  renowned  for  its 
list  of  antiquaries.  These  would  have  arrived  at  discovery 
on  the  above  subject  Of  criticism^  of  such  interest  and  por- 
tentous import  as  it,  visibly,  is  here,  if  any  one  could.  For 
this  society  musters  Ley,  Earl  of  Marlborough,  a  man  of 
genius,  as  well  as  an  antiquary ;  Sir  Henry  Saville  ;  one  of 
the  Spelmans ;  Burton,  author  of  the  Anatomy  of  Melan- 
choly ;  Fox,  the  martyrologist ;  Sir  William  Petty ;  Llwyd, 
author  of  the  Welch  Dictionary ;  Ashmole ;  and  Whitaker, 
of  Manchester.—- Edoab.  Perhaps  this  very  number  of  great 
antiquaries  is  the  reason  the  matter  is  yet  not  cleared  up— 
but  adhuc  subjudice  lis  sit.  The  more  lawyers  ezplun  any 
point,  you  know,  the  more  involved  the  subject  becomes. 

Il  Cortbg.  I  wish  that  one  of  the  above  men  could 
tell  us,  concerning  that  group  placed  in  the  court  here, 
(by  some  thought  to  be  Cain  and  Abel,  by  others  Sam- 
son and  a  Philisdne),  whether  the  jawbone  close  by  does  not 
belong  rather  to  an  ox,  than  an  ass  ? — ^Falk.  Whoever  has 
studied  comparative  anatomy  could  satisfy  you  in  that  matter; 
at  least  better  than  those  who  brought  over  from  the  great 
pyramid  of  Egypt,  as  they  thought,  the  thigh-bone  of  Se- 
sostris,  or  some  other  great  man,  but  who  turned  out  to  be 
a  cow. — ^Edgar.  Any  butcher,  or  horse-doctor,  could  soon 
clear  up  this  controversy :  but  what  difference  would  it 
make  ? — ^II  Cortbg  ,  All  the  difference  in  the  world ;  we 
should  then  know  what  the  artist  meant  to  signify  by  these 
two  naked  and  athletic  figures,  one  of  which  is  knocked 
down,  and  is  lying  on  his  back  under  the  other. — Falk.  We 
must  not  endeavour  to  give  mysterious  and  recondite  mean- 
ings to  the  studies  of  artists,  any  more  than  of  antiquaries,  who 
often  have  no  meaning  at  all. — ^II  Corteg.  It  was  not  so  with 
the  ancient  statuaries.    In  Greece  or  Egypt,  for  example,  if 


BRAZEN  NOSE  COLLEGE. 

» 

we  saw  sach  a  composition^  and  it  were  genuine  and  an- 
tique^  I  should  say  that  the  artist  intended  to  express  an 
epoch  in  the  history  of  early  pagan  religions^  when  the  sacri- 
fice of  animals  was  substituted  for  human  sacrifices.  Or  it 
would  be  a  good  way  to  express  some  emblem  of  the  Egyp- 
tian or  cow-worship^  violently  putting  down  and  smothering 
rational  and  ordained  rights? 

Falk.  Without  intending  a  bull,  it  may  be  said^  we 
often  find  in  the  works  of  artists  more  meaning  than  they 
contain.  But  in  our  disquisition  upon  nosesj  the  most  pro- 
minent faculty  in  the  front  of  this  College,  we  forget  to  look 
at  the  front  itself.  Let  us  go  back  and  survey  that  first ; 
comparing  it  with  Hollis's  fine  engraving  of  it,  which  I  have 
along  with  several  others  of  that  excellent  artist. — ^Eogab. 
And  I  will  read  out  at  the  same  time  Wade's  or  Brewer's 
description  of  it  (I  forgot  to  note  which),  to  see  whether 
they  correspond. 

^'  This  College  forms  the  western  side  of  Ratclifie  Square ; 
of  which  the  Schools  form  the  north  side,  St.  Mary's  Church 
the  south,  and  All  Souls'  College  the  east.  It  presents  a 
long  irregular  front;  towards  the  north  end  of  which,  and  not 
exactly  in  the  centre,  there  rises  a  massive  square  tower  over 
the  entrance  into  the  principal  quadrangle.  Of  this  front  a 
chapel,  having  a  window  of  good  design  decked  with  tra* 
eery,  composing  chiefly  a  Catherine's-wheel,  concludes  the 
southern  extremity.  The  middle  division  of  the  tower  is 
ornamented  in  excellent  taste  by  four  ranges  of  blank  arches 
with  cinque-foil  heads.  It  has,  besides,  two  large  windows 
and  a  battlement;  from  within  which  springs  a  beautiful  oriel 
window,  set  between  two  vacant  arches,  under  coronal  ca- 
nopies. The  window,  the  summit  of  the  tower,  and  the 
whole  line  of  front,  are  embattled,  or  have  an  embrssured 
parapet." 

Falk.  (and  the  rest.)    This  is  a  faithful  description ;  as 

w2 


D1AI.OGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

are  the  reaC  aflEcnrded  us  by  (hose  very  pleasing  wrilen*    Let 
IIS  now  return  into  the  quadrangle^ 

liAttY  6.  This  side  of  the  tower  is  ornamented  in  a 
similar  style  with  the  oater  side^  but  not  so  richly,  bre- 
gular^  and  even  homely  as  this  court  is^  an  interesting  pw- 
ture  of  it  has  been  engraved  for  Chalmers's  Hislmy,  giving 
the  eastern  with  part  of  the  south-eastern  side  of  this  qnt- 
drangle>  surmounted  by  the  gateway  tower.  Over  one 
shoulder  of  it  b  the  rich  spire  of  St«  Mary's  Church ;  and  on 
the  other  rises  the  dome  of  Radcliffe's  Library  widi  un- 
clouded majesty. 

Falk.  Over  the  door  of  this  hall  you  see  on  the  outride 
a  bust  of  Alfred,  after  whom  this  College  once  was  called 
King's  Hall. 

Edoar.  As  for  the  bust  of  Alfred^  there  are- So  many  of 
them,  all  unlike  ^ch  other,  that  I  would  as  soon  believe  the 
hundred  burial  places  of  Jupiter.— Falk.  Briareus  had  a 
hundred  heads,  and  might  require  a  hundred  burial  places. 
It  ConTEQ.  Yes ;  but  Jupiter  had  one  ohly. — Edoar.  Perhaps 
he  was  draWn  and  quartered  t  or,  perha|>a|  he  was  like  a 
Polypus,  Ivhich  if  you  divide  into  iOO  pieces,  each  becomes 
a  complete  animal. — II  Gortso.  UMa  bust  b^ing  so  well 
sculptured^  so  full  of  expression^  atidso  evidently  a  portrait^ 
are  to  me  proofs  that  it  hever  was  his.-^FAXJ:.  I  bdievi^ 
too,  there  was  n6  good  sculptor  c^temportoeous  with  Alfred. 
Il  Cortbg.    It  does  not  pretend  to  give  his  reed  likenete. 

Falk.  The  other  bust  is  that  of  John  Scottis  Erigenai 
as  AUred  waa  the  great  restorer  of  learning,  sd  firigen  wai 
bite  6{  its  first  scholars  and  teachers. 

Edgar.  This  hall  is  ample  and  well  profxTtioned.  I  see 
it  has  its  bay  window  at  the  ujpper  ^nd«»— Falk.  Those 
bre  the  portraits  of  the  two  foutiders^  Bishop  Stnyth  and  Sir 
Richard  Sutton.  The  former  was  president  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales's  council  at  Ludlow ;  th^  castle  of  which  Was  long  the 


BAA2£N  NOSB  COLLEGE. 

Bf9t  of  the  aliases,  axui  afterwazds  immortailbed  in  aoQg  by 
MUcon  imi  Batler.  In  1 500  Smyth  was  chancellor  of  the 
Uoiversity^  Sk  Richard  Sutton  was  of  an  antient  fuaSLy  in 
Cheshire ;  a  man  of  the  law,  who  rose  to  be  one  of  Henry  the 
Seventh's  privy  counsellors.  The  date  of  this  foundation  is 
not  elder  than  151^, 

That  portrait,  Lady  Gertrude,  which  you  a^  jconteig^ 
platiog,  b  of  lx>rd  Chancellor  BUeswere  5  the  othejr  of  George^ 
the  Mayquis  of  Buckbgbam. 

hu  us,  merefy  to  came  out  of  it  ogam,  go  now  ipto  the 
otber  eourt,  which  is  principally  taken  up  by  th^  Chapd 
aod  library.  These  exhibit,  as  you  see,  the  juvenile  ff^Hr 
sions  of  Sir  Cluristopher  Wren.  We  h^ve  poiiMed  battie- 
Bients  and  windows,  contrasting  pilasters  and  classje  capitals. 
Observe  that  .Corinthian  pilaster  in  particular,  ^uj:motinte4 
by  ^  pinnacle  in  the  pointed  style. 

Il  Cobteg.  Oh  1  no  freaks  of  this  kind  can  surprise  niey 
after  observing  the  preclusions  in  the  interior  of  ,this^  and  so 
many  .other  Chiqpels  and  Ualds  jwe  l^aye  «lraa4y  noticed. 

Falk.  Thie  mol  <tf  tiie  Chl^pel  here,  though  of  wop^j  jis 
a  dUMal  imitatfan  of  the  stone  groined  eeiliogs  in  Ahe 
pointed  style.  It  ha^  it»  uniform  lines  pf  st^ls ;  its  lateral 
moges  of  plated  iwind^ws,  but  its  eastern  one  most  vivid  if^ 
ite  painted  ^ass  j  and  a  highly  f^mhelHshed  alta#'.  Ait  fiiat 
the  spectator  is  charjnqdt  Ae  h¥nv8  not  fi^-rrhoweyer,  ^be 
oharm  is  soon  dissolved  by  observiog  the  inter^poixitive  i^ri^i 
it  of  the  <!liissi.c«  ifi  Anows  not  wAerrfcre.  The  interior  fif 
the  Library  is  highly  ornamented  by  Wyatt.  Among  the  nu- 
merous books  and  MSS.  are  the  collations  of  the  classics, 
with  illustrative  notes  by  Wasse,  an  eminent  Greek  scholar, 
one  of  the  boasts  of  Cambridge.  So  low  down  as  the  year 
I7SO,  the  books  were  chained  to  the  walls. 

Edgar.  Smyth  is  said  to  have  been  educated  in  the 
household  of  Thomas,  the  first  Earl  of  Derby.  The  Countess 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

of  Richmond,  who  was  the  second  wife  of  this  nobleman^ 
provided  in  this  manner  according  to  a  kadable  custom  in 
the  houses  of  the  nobility,  for  the  instruction  of  young  men 
of  promising  character. 

Ih  CoBhrEQ.  That  usage  supplies  the  link  between  college 
education  and  that  of  feudal  times.    In  those  times,  *'  the 
atrength  ct  the  Buron's  castle,  or  the  sanctity  of  the  cloister, 
formed  the  only  asylum  of  beauty  and  of  learning.    lu 
the  hall  of  the  Lord,  the  male  youth  of  gentle  blood  were 
reared,  and  the  female  wards  guarded  and  introduced ;  the 
latter  were  held  in  charge  by  the  lady  of  the  mansion ;  and 
employed,  among  other  occupations,  to  instruct  the  children 
in  their  catechism ;  in  reading,  and  writing  (which,  the  noble 
translator  of  the  Assizes  of  Jerusalem,  recommends  all  to  be 
masters  of,  for  the  purposes  of  secresy) :  further,  to  teaching 
the  male  youth  the  love  of  God  and  of  the  ladies — the  pro- 
fessed, but  equivocal,  rudiments  of  chivalry.   Trained  in  the 
duties  of  esquire,  the  male  youth,  from  the  age  of  twelve, 
passed  their  growing  yei^rs  in  preparing  for  the  greater  feats 
of  knighthood ;  and  acquired  the  frank  and  noble  manners  and 
carriage,  arising  from  association  with  high-bom  beauty,  and 
punctilious  nicety  of  honour,  with  tempered^  but  determined 
courage.    When  invested  with  the  sword  and  spurs,  as  love 
impelled  or  restrained  them,  they  continued  to  serve  their 
benefactors,  or  tried  the  fortunes  of  some  other  powerful 
lord,  to  whom  they  engaged  themselves,  or  else  voluntarily 
sallied  forth  to  reap  the  field  of  honour  in  distant  kingdoms/' 


rORPV,';    I'T-lRIISTIl    I'Ol.'L'Eii 


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^-.....^•M^  Mwii^btoa  ut   A-uAy   unu  intrusted    lum    with 
importaiit  negociations^  in  which  he  succeeded.    Upon  the 


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^ «^^  M«/.A^i.ti^  u&   rux^   ana  minisiea    mm   with 

important  negociations,  in  which  he  succeeded.    Upon  the 


OOBFVS  OBAZSTZ  OOIiI.BOE« 


Ii.  CoRTBG.  I  have  often  longed  to  see  this  College; 
which,  besides  its  modest  conventual  air^  and  its  celebrated 
collection  of  the  Aldine  classics^  is  viewed  by  us  with  parti- 
calar  respect,  on  account  of  its  founder.  He  appears  to 
have  been  a  great  man.  It  is  natural  to  run  a  parallel  in 
our  minds  between  Fox,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  Caidinal 
Wolsey ;  from  their  having  been  nearly  cotemporaries,  and 
having  filled  similar  stations.  Both  were  in  the  confidence 
of  Henry  VIII,— Fox  had  been  the  favourite  also  of  the  old 
King ;  but  was  supplanted,  in  the  fiavour  of  the  son,  by 
Wolsey,  a  younger  courtier,  whom  he  had  himself  introduced 
and  recommended.  Cardinal  Wolsey,  however,  seems  never 
lo  have  performed  any  one  good  action  that  was  also  great 
and  lasting.  For  as  to  the  founding  of  Christ  Church  College, 
he  only  commenced  that  magnificent  design.  Whereas  Fox's 
whole  life  is  a  series  of  important  transactions  that  had  great 
influence  not  only  in  hb  time,  but  after  it,  being  interwoven 
with  the  political  destiny  of  £ngland. 

EoGAB.  I  should  like  to  hear  a  few  particulars  of  his 
life  ? — II  Cortbg.  Having  perused  some  account  of  his  life 
in  Chalmers's  History  of  the  Founders,  I  shall  just  mention 
a  few  of  them  in  a  very  ciuwry  manner.  While  be  was  a 
young  man  he  formed  an  acquaintance  at  Paris  with  Bishop 
Morton,— then  an  exile  there  by  order  of  Richard  the  Third. 
By  him  he  was  introduced  to  the  Earl  of  Richmond,  who 
was  at  that  very  crisis  making  preparations  for  his  descent 
upon  England.  The  Earl,  as  well  as  the  Bishop,  discovered 
the  promising  abilities  of  Fox,  and  intrusted  him  with 
•important  negociations,  in  which  he  succeeded.    Upon  the 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

Earl  becoming  Henry  the  Seventh,  Fox  enjoyed  his  nnlimited 
confidence ;  and  be  was  employed  in  several  embassies,  in 
all  of  which  be  soccetded  is  befrxe^  to  the  King's  entire 
satisfaction.  Dignities,  and  wealth  of  course,  fiowed  in  fast 
upon  him.  After  passing,  and  not  slowly  either,  through  a 
gradation  of  other  preferments,  he  was  in  the  year  1500, 
made  Bishop  of  Winchester.  Three  years  before  hk  ezalta- 
tion  to  that  secj^  the  Castle  of  Norham  being  threatened  by 
the  King  of  Scotland,  Fox  not  only  caused  it  to  be  ibftifed, 
aad  supplied  eflfectually  with  troops, — ^bttt  defended  it  fain- 
self  in  person.  In  1496,  that  is,  the  year  after,  he  soecess* 
fully  negociated  the  marriage  of  Henry  the  Seventh's  d&ugb- 
ter  with  James  IV.  King  of  Scotland :  an  alliance  whidi  bid 
the  fMindatioB  of  the  union  between  the  two  kingdoms.  In 
1491,  he  had  stood  god-fatherto  Henry  VIII.  and  remained  in 
fisivour  during  the  whole  course  of  Henry  the  Seventh's  ragn. 
It  was  too  much  perhaps  to  expect  that  he  should  continue 
in  favour  during  another  successive  reign— -though  he  might 
have  expected,  at  least,  not  to  be  supplanted  by  bis  bosom 
Mend,  to  whom  he  had  been  patron.  But  he  hsd  the 
melancholy  experience,  so  common  at  courts  (and  often  out 
of  them  in  the  world),  of  being  gradually  and  painfully  unde- 
ceived in  this  last  respect.  Fox  had  rendeied  himself  ac- 
ceptable, indeed,  at  festivities  and  pageantries,  as  well  » in 
his  true  province,  the  more  serious  aflhirs  of  govemmetit;  and 
he  accompanied  Henry  VIII.  in  one  of  his  GdKc  expe- 
ditions.  Being  obliged  however  to  yield  at  last  to  ihe  ascen- 
dancy of  Wolsey  in  tibe  King's  good  giuces,  (which  ki  pdi- 
tics  as  in  marriage  never  admitted  of  more  than  one  object 
at  a  time ;)  this  aged  prelate,  after  magnanimously  enduriqg 
much  unmerited  neglect  and  many  studied  mollification, 
withdrew  voluntarily fh>m  puUdc  life  altogether:  in  llm, 
sarpassing  in  good  fortune  his  successors,  who  were  tgnomi- 
nionsly  hurled  ivom  it.    He  retiied  to  Winchester,  tmd 


CORPUS  CHRISTI  COLLBGE. 

ployed  the  remdnder  of  hU  days  in  acts  of  cbarity  and 
munificence. 

He  founded  this  College,  at  the  critical  epoeh  ^niuch 
announced  the  downfal  of  monastic  endowments*  His  first 
intention  had  even  been  with  a  view  to  perpetuate  sach  in« 
stitutions.  But  his  discerning  and  enlightened  mind  was 
quickly  diverted  from  this  by  Oldham,  Bishop  of  Exeter^ 
who  anticipated  what  came  to  pass  not  long  afterwanh. 

He  lost  the  use  of  his  sight  ten  years  before  his  deaths  A 
portrait  of  him  made  during  that  period  is  in  this  College : 
in  the  new-made  gallery  communicating  between  the  Pkesi- 
denfs  lodgings  and  the  Chapel.  He  exercised  to  the  last  the 
most  princely  hospitality  at  Winchester,  wheve  his  domestics 
exceeded  the  number  of  two  hundred. 

Il  Coatbg.  And  I  have  no  donbt  muiy  worthy  and  excel- 
lent men  (whose  names  figm*e  in  biography)  were,  when 
young,  received  into  his  retinue,  and  educated  after  the  man- 
ner of  that  age.  There  cannot  be  a  finer  school  for  a  rising 
man,  than  to  be  thus  «ar]y  one  of  the  followers,  and  in 
the  train,  as  it  were,  of  some  great  man.  For  books  alone  are 
not  suiBcient  vnthout  living  examples.  It  may  be  that  the 
change  of  manners  in  this  respect,  where  chS^n  are  se» 
parated  from  home,  and  pass  the  first  thiid  of  their  lives  at  a 
distance  conversing  with  one  imother  only,  or  witb  boGfks  as 
well  as  with  mere  preceptora ;  nsay  be  one  of  the  ^causes 
why  we  have  M  few  remarkable  men.— Falk.  In  ike  times 
we  are  now  speaking  of^  besides  education  in  religious 
houses,  it  was  ^^11  usual  to  allow  youth  to  Kve  hi  the  houses  of 
the  bishops  and  nobility.  They  occasionally  filled  up  the 
retinue  of  the  master* — EnoAR.  This  probably,  too,  was  the 
origin  of  fagging  at  pubfic  schools^ — Where  the  younger  are 
made  to  serve  their  elders  as  masters. — Falk.  And  of  pages 
at  Courts.  Pace,  one  of  the  restorers  of  letters  in  England, 
the  friend  of  Eiasmus,  was  taken  into  the  pataoe  of  Langton, 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Biflliop  of  Winchester.  Sir  Thomas  More  was  educated  as 
a  page  of  Cardinal  Morton,  Archbishop  of  Caoterburyy 
about  1490,  who  foretold  his  future  greatness. — ^II  Cortbg. 
And  More  lias  gratefully  immortalised  the  memory  of  his 
patron  in  the  best  of  his  works. — Ladf  G.  This  method  too 
b  a  kind  of  earnest  of  future  patronage,  and  is  a  sure  road 
to  fortune. 

Falk.  His  crosier  is  shewn  here.  Though  a  fine  specimen 
of  ancient  workmanship,  it  is  not  considered  equal  to  that  of 
Wykeham  at  New  College.  Here  b  likewise  preserved  part 
of  his  chapel  plate  5  consisting  of  two  paterae,  a  golden 
chalice  of  very  elegant  form,  and  a  vase  of  gilt  silver,  with  its 
cover,  most  curiously  wrought.  It  is  enriched  with  an 
amethyst^  together  with  his  ring  and  pendant  pearls. 

At  one  time  he  was  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  had  studied  also ;  after  having  been  at  first 
of  Magdalen  College,  from  whence  he  was  driven  by  the 
plague. 

When  Henry  the  Eighth  was  once  solicited  to  give  this 
College,  on  account  of  its  site,  to  Wolsey,  who  wished  to  ex- 
tend Christ  Church  buildings  over  it — Henry  at  once  silenced 
such  a  request,  by  exclaiming,  "  What !  disturb  the  foun- 
dation of  my  god-father !" 

Laot  G.  We  are  anxious  to  see  this  College,  for 
the  sake  of  its  founder;  in  other  places  we  are  curious  to 
hear  something  about  the  founder,  for  the  sake  of  the  Col- 
lege. 

Falk.  It  stands  south  of  Oriel,  having  Merton  on  the 
east,  and  Christ  Church  on  the  west.  It  is  built,  as  most  of 
the  Colleges  are,  on  the  site  of  several  old  halls.  It  consists 
principally  of  this  quadrangle,  built  in  the  founder's  life-time: 
but  it  was  not  embattled,  as  you  now  see  it,  until  the  reign 
of  James  the  First.  We  have  two  excellent  engravmgs, 
one  by  Hollis,  of  its  front  5  Merton  appearing  in  the  dis- 


fiJMasT   i-iiuy 


1 


*    / 


••   .>      ' 


:  at   •. 


i 


\ 


CORPUS  CHRISTI  COLLEGE. 

tance.  Observe  how  accurately  are  displayed  the  square 
tower,  embattled ;  the  oriel  window^  the  three  niches^  now 
empty  ;  but  not  despoiled  of  their  rich  canopies. 

The  quadrangle  itself  is  101  feet  long,  and  80  wide. — 
Lady  G.  It  is  uniform^  and  of  a  chearful  character^  yet  dis- 
posing the  mind  to  meditation. — ^Edoar.  That  san-dial  in 
the  centre  seems  of  a  peculiar  construction. — Falk.  YeSj  it 
serves  as  a  perpetual  calendar :  and  I  believe  this  is  the  only 
quadrangle  that  coincides  with  the  four  points  of  the  com- 
pass ;  its  front  facing  duly  the  north.  The  Hall  stands  on 
the  east,  having  a  large  pointed  window  towards  the  street, 
which  is  well  expressed  in  the  engravings.  The  Library  is  on 
the  southern  side.  And  that  figure  in  a  niche  under  a  pedi- 
ment is  the  statue  of  the  founder;  habited  as  a  prelate^  with 
his  crosier  and  mitre. 

Lady  G.  This  Hall  b  a  room  of  excellent  proportion  ? — 
Falk.  It  is  so  considered :  the  carved  work^  and  the  roof  in 
particular  are  much  admired. 

Thb  Library  is  the  room  in  which^  as  Mr.  Brewer  tedr 
ingly  observes,  Erasmus  spent  so  many  hours  in  study.  It 
remains  exactly  in  the  state  in  which  it  was  left  by  its  foun- 
der. It  was  built  at  that  auspicious  seraj  as  the  same  writer 
observes^  of  the  revival  of  letters;  when  classical  learning  was 
introduced  as  a  necessary  part  of  school-education.  Of 
course,  it  is  eminently  rich  in  editions  of  the  classics.  In 
particular,  it  has  a  very  valuable  collection  of  the  Aldtne 
editions,  of  these,  the  most  curious  are  three  on  vellum, 
Cicero  de  ^^Eciif— Theophrastus^  and  Aristotle.  Among  300 
MSS.  there  is  one  of  Suidas,  which  has  its  former  owners 
name  upon  it,  Qro€ynj  the  celebrated  scholar  and  teacher  of 
the  Greek  language  in  thb  University,  towards  the  close  of 
the  i6th  century. — ^Edoar.  Who  was  Grocyn? — ^Falx. 
Grocyn  was  bom  at  Bristol,  and  educated  at  Winchester 
College.    He  resided  at  Exeter  College  in  1491,  and  read  a 


DIALOGUE  UPOll  OXFORD. 

Greek  lectare  in  the  Unnrersity.  It  seems  he  had  Erasmus 
for  his  pupil}  or  hetf  er^  whom  he  faospitabljr  enftertainfid  for 
a  considerable  time.  He  was  so  generous  to  his  friends,  ikmt, 
it  is  said,  he  was  obliged  to  pawn  his  pkte  to  Dr.  Young, 
then  Blaster  of  the  Rolls*  This  Library  has  also  the  IfSS. 
cdllfictieiis  of  the  great  antiquary,  Twyne;  also  of  Fulman. 
£dga&«  Those  ave  the  portraits  of  the  seven  Bishops, 
who  prefixed  being  sent  to  the  Tower,  rather  than  become 
traitors  to  liie  laws. 

In  1755,  Lord  G)leraine,  a  nobleman  of  this  Coll^^e,  pre- 
sented it  with  a  very  lai]ge  collection  of  Italian  books^  form- 
ing almost  a  library  of  Italian  literature.  He  was  an  ex- 
oeDent  Greek  scholar,  a  poet,  and  antiquary. 

Il  CkMETBG.  Most  of  the  specimens  here  of  early  typogra- 
phy were  left  to  the  College  by  the  founder.  Of  these  siaiiy 
had  been  biongbt  from  Italy  by  Sherwood,  Kshop. of  Durham. 
EooaJU  Jewdl,  Bishop  ofSaliAury,  was  of  thasCoUege, 
of  whom  Cardinal  Pole  said,  '^  though  a  hesetic  in  faoth,  in 
life  he  seemed  an  angeL" 

Eauu  B^ysn  Twyne,  the  cddmted  £Btfaer  of  the  modem 
aotiqaaries,  was  also  of  fins  seminary^  and  a  fellow  of  it*  He 
was  <«ipk>yed  by  Archbishop  Laud,  in  dmwing  up  the  Uni» 
wraity  Stettftos  tt  large.  Hkese  were  afterwwds  cqcrected, 
methodised,  aad  fufbished  oirer  with  excoUeoi  LaSan^  by 
Dr.  Peter  Turner,  .one  0f  the  jSaviUan  Profesaom.  Twyne 
was  rewarded  widi  the.  place  of  Gustos  Archii«rum ;  ah  office 
founded  at  the  eompletipii  tof  jiie  Statutes  in  16B4*  The 
abridgment  of  jthem,  which  relates  Ao  manners,  eKcroiaes,  &c^ 
for  the  younger  partof  the  students,  wwb  by  Thomas  Ooss- 
field,  of  Queen's.  BasA  Kconet,  author  of  the-  Bioma&  Anti- 
quities, was  I^mident  here ;  the  Hth  in  the  Kat  of  ftesi- 
demts.  To  these  w^  may  add  Hales ;  Sir  Asbton  Lever, 
cdBhrided  for  his  musseum;  and  Dr.  lUehard  Poeodte, 
Bishop  of  Mealiit  die  ilkisttious  oriental  txavelli^. 


CORPV8  CHRI8TI  COLLKGI. 

Fauc.  We  hxre  now  only  to  see  the  Cbapel,  and  after- 
wavdapasang  through  to  the  Clobter,  take  a  gfamee  of  the 
new  boildiag  in  the  Fellows'  Garden. 

LiAj>T  G.  Well^  to  be  eandid^  I  cannot  adoure  this 
Chapel,  pre-disposed  as  I  may  be  to  admire  e^ery  thing  be- 
longing to  Bishop  Fox's  fottndation.-^FAJLK.  Be  candid  and 
you  will  be  safe.    Many  people  are  caught  in  a  trap,  when 
laying  aside  their  candor,  they  think  it  incumbent  on  them 
to  praiae  at  all  events*    This  Chapel,  Fox  had  nothing  to  do 
with.    It  was  arranged  in  the  state  you  now  behold  it,  in 
the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second. — II  Corteo.  And  I  never 
yet  saw  any  thing  arranged  in  his  taste  that  was  good  for  any 
thing.    The  skreen  is  of  cedar.-— Falk.  That  picture  over 
the  altar  by  Rubens,  is  esteemed  a  very  fine  one, — Mlw» 
The  subject  is  the  Adoration. — ^Falk,  This  valuable  picture 
containing  five  figures  only,  of  the  human  proportion,  toge- 
ther with  the  infant  Christ,  was  presented  to  the  College  by 
Sir  Uchard  Worsley,  who  gave  3000  touis  d*ors  for  it.    It 
was  substituted  for  another  picture  once  here,  but  now  in 
Balden  Church,  (Oxdd)^-hi  copy  of  the  Annunciation  by 
Guido :  the  original  was  in  the  Monte  CavaUo  Palace  at 
Rome. — Ih  CoRiiKG.   Whatever  may  be  th^  subject,  and 
here  it  is  a  homely  and  rustic  one,  we  never  meet  with  dig- 
nity and  grace  in  Rubein*  Though  he  had  all  the  other  essen- 
tials of  a  great  artist :  paTticuUtly  learning,  force  of  expression, 
good  design,  colouring,  and  composition.    Taking  the  sub- 
ject of  these  two  pictures,  however,  into  our  consideration,  I 
am  not  sure  whether  I  should  not  prefer  a  good  copy  of 
Gmdo  for  this  original  of  Rubens. 

Falk,  This  Cloister,  which  now  serves  as  a  place  of  se- 
pulture, was  built  by  Dr.  Turner.  It  is  only  worth  pasw^ 
through  to  this  other  building  of  Turner's  munificence, 
facmg  Christ  Church  Meadows. ,  It  is  1 19  feet  in  front ;  and 
three  stories  high,  as  you  see. — ^II  Corteg.  These  four 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFOKD. 

bnic  pSiilen  stmad  wcD  od  that  nmple  InsctBeat ^Edcai. 

Bat  bow  CSD  the  tioaki  mj  the  baaanent  a  ooC  matic; 
raentiomiig  it  alao  u  mstter  of  comamdatian  ? — Ir.  Coktcc. 
It  woold  be  nutter  ntber  of  censure.  Hie  Hnteh  ai  ibe 
windows,  and  die  kej-ftones,  paiticnlsriy,  are  <tf  the  rmtk 
order,  and  my  praperiy.  The  triaognlar  pediment,  and  the 
bold  cornice,  extending  from  the  base  of  the  pediment  sloag 
&e  wh<de  ftont,  arc  well  proportioned.  And  the  whole  ii 
jndicioittly  tenniiiated  bj  that  balustrade  along  the  a 


JKSrS      rDLlLTiGE. 


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JB8U8   OOliIiBOB. 


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Falk.  The  Welch  antiquities^  as  well  as  the  Scotish^ 
are  related  by  affinity  to  those  of  Ireland.  The  historians  of 
Stonehenge  acknowledge  some  communication  between  them 
in  early  times. — ^Edoar.  They  are  related  even  by  consan^ 
gtiinityj  I  should  think ;  a  word  which  your  old  law-French 
shews  to  be  synonymous  with  cozenage^  or  our  cousinship«— 
II  Cortbg.  They  are  collateral  £foo<2-reIations  :  and  as^of 
course^  they  were  formerly  for  cutting  each  others  throats 
with  the  sword^  so  they  are  now  for  doing  it  with  pens  well- 
sharpened;  an  instrument  of  the  press  which  makes  the 
blood  of  all  men  in  office  run  cold* — II  Cobtbo.  Hot  and 
cold  by  fits  with  trembling,  a  high  flush,  and  profuse 
perspiration ;  upon  taking  leeches,  however,  the  patient  is  well. 

Falk.  But  we  have  here  an  ampler  proof  of  relationship 
above  adverted  to,  in  an  enormous  punch-bowl  they  ex- 
hibit, the  gift  of  Sir  W.  W.  Wynn.— Edgar.  It  is  an  Irish 
giant  among  punch-bowls,  and  stationed,  with  great  propriety, 
where  it  ought  to  be,  in  the  Fellow's  common-room.    But 
the  guides  always  exhibit  it  empty  ?  Now,  I  think,  an  ordinary 
punch-bowl  never  looks  well,  somehow  or  other,  but  when  it 
is  full  ?  What  a  dry  exhibition  it  is,  a  butler  swinging  about 
an  empty  ladle,  and  informing  you  that  it  holds  half  a  pint ! 
He  goes  on  to  tell  you  that  the  bowl  is  of  silver,  and  weighs 
278  ounces,  all  which  may  be  very  interesting  to  a  silver- 
smith. 

Falk.  You  are  now  arrived  at  the  conclusion,  that  this 
is  a  Welch  endowment. — Lajdt  G.  Yes ;  though  we  have 
vrived  at  it  in  a  round-about  way. — Falk.  Most,  if  not  all 
<)f  the  Colleges  were  private  foundations,  for  the  benefit  of 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

the  donors  fomily ,  coontyj  or  district,  in  some  part  or  other  of 
the  united  kingdom.  As  this  was  intended  for  Welchmen, 
80  Exeter  was  for  the  Devonshire  and  G)mish  men,  Uni- 
▼eisitjr  for  the  Durham,  Yorkshire-men.  and  other  northerns : 
Baliol  for  the  Scots. — ^Edgar.  How  comes  it  that  there  is 
not  one  for  poor  Ireland  ? 

Ll  Cortbg.  It  does  not  want  one*  Though  when  it  did, 
and  a  bene&ctor  presented  himself  in  Oxford,  some  goodr 
naiuredf  officious,  person  diverted  him  from  his  intention ; 
and  drew  off  the  charity  into  a  more  favoured  channel  and 
nceptade,  that  stood  not,  however,  quite  so  much  in  need 
of  it. 

Edgar.  I  have  a  scheme  upon  thb  subject,  which  I  mil 
shew  to  yon  before  we  leave  Oxford. — h.  Cortrg.  It  is  too 
lafee :  the  age  of  private  and  provincial  endowments  is  gone 
by.  They  ever  tended  rather  to  divide  than  to  unite.  They 
had  this  very  effect  at  Oxford ;  where  there  were  incessant 
qiHurrels  between  the  students  of  this  and  that  county. — ^Faxk. 
Such  was  by  no  means  the  intention  of  the  pious  donors.  How- 
ever private,  personal,  and  local,  their  endowments  weie^ 
their  object  was  general,  to  do  away  illiberal  distinctioDS ; 
and  in  this  way  they  have  operated.  Students  from  aU  parts 
of  the  united  kingdom  are  received  indiscriminately  in  all  the 
CoUeges. 

Edgar.  And  in  this  very  way  will  my  scheme  operate^ 
too.  The  veiy  name  I  have  imagined  for  my  new  foundalio0 
is  Uuion  College. 

Ladv  G.  But  let  us  first  see  what  Oxford  contains,  be- 
fore we  think  of  what  it  wants. 

Il  Cortsg.  We  have  seen  in  the  punch-bowl  that  it 
aheady  possesses  more /Aon  tticnrarssriki/^tfcfom^  Bat  as 
they  are  so  savingof  their  ui^iieiK^A,  liiqr  had  better  mot  he 
too  Qrtentatious  of  their  plate,  if  they  wish  to  keep  what  tb^ 
possess.     What  with  the  visitaHions  of  Henry  VIU.  (who 


JE9U8  COLLEGE. 

devoured  hospitaSty  (by  the  way) ;  and  of  his  son^  who  had 
no  bowels  for  it ;  and  of  the  Parliamientarianfl^  who  had  no 
consciohableness  or  mercy  upon  it;  what  with  all  these 
drains,  the  butler's  pantries  and  plate-chests  of  Oxford  have 
been  laid  under  pretty  heavy  contributions  from  time  to 
time :  not  to  mention  the  royal  establishment,  army,  and 
mint  of  Charles  the  First ;  who  with  hb  predecessor,  and 
two  immediate  successors,  and  their  heirs,  cast  an  eye  of 
particular  regard  upon  thb  University. 

Lady  G.  For  my  part  I  cannot  help  thinking  the  less 
plate  a  College  possesses  the  better,  and  the  fewer  pictures, 
as  well  as  palaces.  For,  that  it  possess^  palaces  we  shall  see 
when  we  come  to  examine  their  classical  buildings.  Its  real 
treasures  are  in  its  institutions ;  in  that  great  stake  it  pos- 
sesses, public  opinion :  and  in  being,  along  with  its  two 
sister  Universities,  the  most  orthodox  institutor  of  the  Bri- 
tish youth.     <'  Tbesb  are  its  jewels/' 

Mut.  I  like  much  the  front  of  this  College,  with  its  rus- 
tic gateway,  and  that  pointed  eastern  window  of  its  chapel, 
— ^Il  Cortbg.  But  how  dismal  are  these  ogee  battlements  ! 
They  should  be  cut  down  into  the  form  of  an  embrasured 
parapet,  of  the  same  pattern  as  that  which  crowns  the  pen- 
tagonal bay  window  of  its  inner  court.  Indeed,  this  whole 
College  requires  to  be  gothicised,  as  it  is  called ;  that  is^ 
mannered  into  the  pointed  style*    It  is  a  good  subject  for  it. 

Falk.  This  first  quadrangle,  90  feet  by  70,  is  formed  Jby 
the  Chapel^  on  the  north,  the  Hall  on  the  west,  together  with 
the  apartments  for  students  on  the  south  and  east. 

This  second,  or  inner  quadrangle  is  ampler  and  of  better 
prop<Mrtions ;  1 00  feet  by  90. — Edgar.  What  part  does  this 
pentagonal  oriel  window  with  its  embrasured  parapet  belong 
to  ?-— Falk.  To  the  Hall,  a  room  which  is  more  than  suffi- 
ciently spacious;  but  the  punch-bowl  is,  I  suppose,  the 
roHonale  of  every  thing  here.    The  roof  ii  in  the  pointed 

e 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

style.  It  is  $aid  to  contain  some  interesting  portruts.  As 
for  the  Chapel^  excepting  that  it  was  boilt  by  private  contri- 
butions from  the  gentry  of  Wales,  it  would  be  cruel  to  smf 
any  thing  about  it. 

In  the  Library  are  the  Statutes  on  vellum,  a  curious  spe- 
cimen of  calligraphy. — Mlf,  What  is  better^  they  are  writ- 
ten, I  have  no  doubt,  on  the  hearts  and  actions  of  the  fellows 
and  students. 

Falk.  The  works  of  Lord  Herbert,  of  Cherbury,  are 
here.— Edgar.  Who  believed  in  silly  dreams,  though  he  did 
not  choose  to  believe  revelation.     He  was  a  philosopher 
among  lordlings,  and  alordling  among  philosophers. — ^Falr. 
Mr.  Brewer  intitles  Lord  Herbert  an  ^^  argumentative  knight- 
errant.'"— >Il  CoRTBO.  Which  will  do,  if  you  add,  ^'  who 
fights  in  his  sleep.'"     His  head-piece  was  clearly  wrong-ad- 
justed ;  perhaps  in  the  setting  of  it,  it  was  cracked. — ^Faia. 
But  Mr.  Brewer  candidly,  in  his  manner,  qualifies  this  sen* 
tence,  by  saying  that  his  craziness  was  confined  to  one  sub- 
ject.— II  Cortrg.  That  is  the  case  in  all  madmen.     How- 
ever, that  subject  was  a  pretty  extensive  one  ? — ^Edgar.  It 
should  never  be  forgotten,  that  in  his  life  of  Henry  VIII.  as 
the  above  writer  remarks,  he  passed  merited  censures  on 
arbitrary  government :  and  this,  in  the  very  pages  to  which 
he  knew  the  attention  of  Charles  the  First  would  be  drawn ; 
having  executed  the  work  by  Charles's  own  orders. 

Falk.  Howell,  the  traveller,  and  agreeable  letter-writer, 
with  Lloyd,  one  of  the  seven  prelates  sent  to  ,the  tower, 
were  of  this  College.  We  are  informed  by  Mr.  Brewer,  that 
Hugh  Ap  Rice,  of  Brecknock,  the  founder  of  this  College, 
was  prebendary  6f  Rociiester.  Observing  that  his  country- 
men were  scarcely  ever  noticed  in  Collegiate  endowments, 
and  thinking  that  not  quite  fair  and  christian-like,  he  applied 
to  Elizabeth,  who,  we  all  know,  was  a  Welch-woman* 
The  Queen  gave  him  plenty  enough  of  parchment^  or  goats* 


JESUS  COLLEGE, 

skin. — ^Ii.  CoftTBO.  No  uDaeceptable  gift  to  a  Wetohmaiu— > 
Edcar.  As  the  Queen  probably  knew  ?— Falk.  It  may  be 
so,  but  i  cannot  be  quite  positive.  In  shorty  she  gafveUm 
charter  enough,  in  all  conscience  $  but  as  for  plate  or  money, 
she  gav€  him  not  so  .much  as  a  copper  sixpence.  She  also 
gave  him  leave  to  take  such  timber  for  the  College^  as  he 
could  find ;  or  cut  and  square  out  for  that  purpose^  from 
the  forests  of  Shotover  and  Stow. 

Il  Cobteg.  He  must  have  made  good  use  of  his  eyes ;  I 
protest  I  have  looked  all  round  the  neighbourhood  far  these 
said  forests^  and  I  can  find  not  a  remnant,  except  in  charters. 

Falk.  Though  the  College  had  no  other  endowment 
bat  that  of  the  founder,  it  seems,  even  this  was  afterwards 
lost,  or  became  unproductive.— -Il  Cortso.  Which,  I  thinks 
amount  to  the  same  thing. — ^Falk.  No  doubt  for  the  time 
being :  but  I  have  seen  very  affluent  men,  of  sueh  estates. 
In  the  meanwhile,  the  College,  with  a  good  estate,  woakj* 
have  been  starved,  but  for  the  liberality  of  Sir  Eubule  Thel- 
wall ;  £dward  Merrick,  who  left  his  whole  estate  to  it ;  Sir 
Leoline  Jenkins ;  and  some  others.  In  1640,  Dr.  Maxwell, 
then  principal  of  the  College,  held  in  his  hands  sufficient 
sttbscriptions  to  complete  the  buildings,  then  unfinished ; 
but  the  civil  war  intervening,  he  returned  the  money  to  the' 
respective  donors.  However,  in  1676,  Sir  Leoline  Jenkins 
completed  them  at  his  own  private  expense. 

Il  CoRTBti.  Speaking  of  the  civil  war,  for  what  reasons 
do  the  Welch,  Soots,  and  Irish,  though  always  worst  treated 
in  arbitrary  reigns,  adhere  with  the  greatest  constancy  to  the 
^ciy  persons  and  counsels  which  oppressed  them  ? — Falk.  I 
oonld  give  several,  but  I  doubt  whether  they  would  prove 
good  ones.  Some  say  it  is  in-  the  instinct  «of  human  nature, 
like  that  of  a  dog,  that  it  will  fiawn  upon  those  who  use  it 
with  most  severity;  and  the  more  gently  you  treat  it,  the  less 
you  can  bend  it  afterwards  to  your  will.    Others  say  that  the 

G  2 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

more  blood  and  sweat  of  the  brow  it  costs  ns  to  attain  any 
goody  we  set  a  greater  value  upon  it.— Eogab.  I  suppoM  this 
is  the  reason  we  have  all  so  loolent  a  prepossessioii  for  the 
•lassies  at  school. — ^Falk.  Some  argue^  that  the  fewer  rights 
men  are  allowed,  the  mcnre  careless  they  are  about  them ;  as 
b  the  case  in  Turkey,  and  in  all  despotic  countries.  Yon 
wUl  find  more  statues,  busts,  and  pictures  of  the  Stuarts  at 
Oxford,  who  absolutely  drained  and  ruined  it,  than  of  any 
other  Princes,  excepting  Elizabelh,  who  never  gave  it  one 
ferthing. 

Ii.  CoRTBG.  These  reasons  do  not  entirely  satisfy  me.  An 
arbitrary  Ptince  in  England,  though  he  may  lord  it  for  a 
while,  (and  he  will  exercise  his  tyranny  in  the  distant  pro- 
vinces With  less  constraint  than  in  the  capital),  never  fails 
sooner  or  later  to  become  the  weaker  party  in  England. 
Defeated  there,  he,  like  the  bull  in  th^  fable,  who  had  been 
vanquished  by  another  bull,  takes  to  the  woods  and  marshes. 
He  is  followed  there,  and  in  the  conflict,  the  poor  nuserable 
frogs,  no  doubt,  are  trampled  to  death.  But  they  can  civilly 
afbrd  a  hospitable  reception  to  one  bull,  though  not  to  a 
drove  of  ikem :  and  as  this  one  is  opposed  to  the  rest,  the 
ffogs,  of  course,  consider  him  as  their  ol/jf .  But  if  you  can 
reclaim  these  wilds  and  morasses,  uniting  them  in  one  great 
farm  with  the  ancient  and  parent  estate,  with  roads  of  com- 
munication—as there  will  then  be  no  shelter  of  that  kind  for 
the  vanquished  bull  to  fly  to,  he  will  contrive  to  live  peaceably 
with  his  brother  bulls,  and  to  give  them  as  little  just  cause 
of  ofience  as  possible.  For  this  reason,  as  well  as  for  others, 
I  am  a  friend  to  the  Union  with  Ireland,  and  to  that  uni- 
versal, rafMd,  and  ahnost  instantaneous,  communication  of 
the  Press  you  enjoy  at  present.  In  all  ages,  heretofore,  the 
discomfited  party  in  England,  whether  whig  ortory,  king  or 
subject,  from  John  to  James  the  Second,  have  taken  refuge 
in  Wales,  Scotkind,  or  Ireland. 


/  ■ 


BZ8TBR  OOIiIiBOS. 


Ladt  G.  ^'  Among  the  Rectorft  of  this  College,  there 
was  one  whose  story  exemplifies/'  as  Mr.  Wade  remarks, 
^  two  very  different  morals  in  an  equally  striking  manner : 
one,  the  success  which  industiy  and  peneverance  may  hope 
to  attain, — the  other,  the  instability  of  fortune/'    Dr.  John 
Prideaux  was  bom  of  poor  parents  at  Stowfort,  in  Devon- 
shire ;  and  being  disappoii^ted  in  an  endeavour  to  obtain  the 
humble  app<nntmentof  parish  clerk  at  a  neighbouring  village, 
he  made  hu  way  to  Oxford,  where  he  obtained  some  employ- 
ment in   the  kitchen  of  Exeter  College.    In  this  menial 
occupation  he  so  acquitted  himself,  as  to  attract  the  notice 
of  his  superiors,  by  whom  he  was  removed  to  a  situation  of 
acquiring  the  instruction  he  wanted.    His  excellent  natural 
abilities  were  so  well  cultivated,  that  he  became  a  scholar  of 
the  first  eminence ;  niet  speedily  with  preferment,  obtaining 
a  canonry  of  Christ  Church,  then,  the  regius  professorship  of 
divinity,  and,  lastly,  the  headship  of  this  very  College.    In 
the  last  capacity,  so  great  was  his  fame  as  a  preceptor,  that 
students  flocked  to  the  College,  on  his  account,  from  all  parts 
of. the.  country,  and  even  from  abroad ;  so  that  it  became 
necessary  to  build  the  house  which  you  will  see  immediately 
(behind  the  Reetor^s  lodgings  on  the  north  side  of  the 
quadrangle),  far  their  accommodadon.     He  held  his  rector- 
ship thirty  years,  filling  in  the  intermediate  time  the  office 
of  Vice  Chancellor.    In  1641,  Charles  the  First  advanced 
Um  to  the  prelacy  as  Bishop  of  Worcester.    But  the.  ptes- 
byterian  party  bebg  now  on  the  ascendant,  his  episcopal 
x^venues  were  sequestrated.  So  very  scanty  was  the  pittance 
aUoited  to  him  out  of  their  amoiim,  that  he  was  obliged  to  sell 


DIALOGUE   UPON  OXFORD. 

even  his  books  for  a  subsistence.  Nor  was  this  the  greatest 
distress  he  was  reduced  to.  An  acquaintance  happened  to 
observe  him  walking  with  something  lud  in  his  gown  one 
morning ;  and  upon  pressing  him  to  own  what  it  was  he  had 
gotten  there,  the  venerable  diocesan  with  unafiected  and 
yery  good-humoured  naivete  confeissed  that  he  was  obl^ed^ 
like  an  ostrich,  to  mate  an  occasional  repast  upon  vraa  s 
uncovering  at  the  same  time  soitie  fragments  of  that  metal, 
which  he  was  going  to  dispose  of  at  4  blacksoiith's.  He 
survived  the  king :  but  his  suffisrings,  which  he  had  home 
throughout  with  a  fortitude  and  resignation  truly  Christiaii, 
were  terminated  by  death  only. 

Falk.  James,  duke  of  Hamilton,  beheaded  under  Crom- 
well^ was  of  this  College  :  Noy,  the  attorney-general,  called 
the  Prerogative  Noy  :  and  several  eminent  lawyers,  as  Loid 
Chief  Justice  Rolle,  Justice  Treby,  Sir  Michael  Foster,  Sir 
John  Fortescue,  &c.  &c. 

It  has  to  divide  claims  with  another  College  as  to  Grocyn, 
already  mentioned  to  have  been  one  of  the  revivers  of 
learnings  The  virtuous  and  gentle  Lord  Falkland  (Hemy 
Lucius  Cary),  who  died  before  the  contest  was  over  betw<een 
Charles  the  First  and  his  Parliament,  was  of  this  College ; 
the  man  who  uaed,  with  a  deep  sigh,  to  ejaculate  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  king's  courtiers,  ever  and  anon,  the  words  peace  I 
peace  !  when  they  were  clamouring  fot  war— or  tyranny* 

It  had,  besides,  the  factious  Lord  Shaftesbury,  one  of 
Charles  the  Second's  cabal:  add  to  these  Berlase,  the 
topographer ;  Kennicott,  the  librarian ;  Tlndal,  the  conti- 
nuator  of  Rapin.  And  besides  archbishop  Seeker,  of  Hie  Umt 
centuty^  M aundi^U,  the  illustrious  tmveller  of  the  preceding 
one ;  whose  deM^tful  jOiimey  from  Aleppo  to  Jerasalenij 
written  with  an  almost  evangelic  simpKdty  and  ^delity.  Dr. 
Johnson  not  only  admued,  as. every  one  else  must,  but  used 
as  his  very  model  when  writing  his  Tour  to  the  Western  Isles. 


EX£T£R  COLLEGE. 

College  may  be  said  to  have  had  three  founden : 
StapledoDj  bishop  of  Exeter,  was  the  first,  a  man  of  great  pride, 
pomp,  and  most  expensive  ostentation ;  he  held  the  highest 
offices  of  state  under  the  weak  Edward  II. ;  and  adhering  to  his 
party  was,  in  the  tumults  of  those  days,  beheaded  by  the  mob 
in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard.  Stafford,  also.  Bishop  of  Exeter, 
was  the  second  founder,  in  1404 ;  he  altered  the  name  of 
the  College  from  that  of  the  preceding  founder  to  that  of  the 
see  only.  The  third  founder  was  SirW.  Petre,  by  far 
the  most  considerable  benefactor  of  all.  He  obtamed  a  new 
charter,  ordaining  the  office  of  rector  to  be  for  life.  Be- 
fore his  time  it  was  annnal.  It  has  been  observed  before, 
that  the  foundation  was  intended  principally  for  the  students 
of  Devonshire  and  Cornwall. 

LcABY  6.  Only  that  we  tnay  have  it  to  say  that  we  have 
been  here,  this  College  is  so  little  differing  from  others  we 
have  seen,  that  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  make  a  pilgrimage 
through  it  for  the  present.  It  might  have  had  as  high  pre- 
tensions to  the  praise  of  uniformity  as  any  other,  if,  unfor- 
tunately, its  evil  genius,  (I  cannot  say  taste),  had  not  spoiled 
all  by  thb  Ionic  gateway^  with  its  pilasters,  plinth^  rustic 
basement,  pediment,  armorial  bearings,  festoons,  &e«  if 
these  had  not  been  placed  in  the  centre  of  a  front  after 
the  pointed  style,  extending  to  the  length  of  220  feet, 
and  environed,  as  usual,  with  an  embattled  parapet.  To 
describe  it,  is  only  to  repeat  the  guide-books,  and  the  de* 
scription  of  the  former  Colleges;  one  description  would 
suffice  for  three-fourths  of  the  Colleges,  built  after  the  cas- 
tellated manner.    But  let  us  enter  the  quadrangle  at  once. 

Falk«  This  quadrangle  is  nearly  a  square  of  135  feet. 
It  must  be  allowed,  that  that  range  of  windows  in  front  of 
the  hall,  under  obtusely  pointed  arches,  is  very  fine. — ^Ii^ 
CoRTEG.  And  particularly  that  lofty  oriel  window,  divided 
by  muUions  and  transoms  into  eighteen  trefoil-headed  light<}^ 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

The  ascent  also  to  the  hall  by  a  flight  of  steps  has  a  good 
effect. — Fajlk*  The  ceiling  and  screen  are  of  carred  oak. 
Besides  Stapledon's  and  other  portnuts,  it  has  that  of  Sir  W» 
Petre^  who  participated  largely  in  the  plunder  of  the  mi^- 
nasteries. — ^Edoar.  Perhaps  his  beneCsctions  to  tliis  College 
were  by  way  of  restitution  ?— Falk.  As  he  never  told  me, 
or  perhaps  any  one  else,  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  how  that 
was;  but  we  may  collect,  that  he  knew  as  a  statesman,  how 
to  trim  his  balance,  and  to  keep  his  seat  and  his  equanimity 
in  very  rough,  arduous,  and  jolting  times  of  teigiversation : 
for  he  remained  in  favour  with  four  successive  princes  of  ao 
opposite  a  temper  as  Henry  the  £ighth,  Edward  the  Sixtli^ 
Mary,  and  Elizabeth ;  who  were  as  opposed,  I  think,  as  the 
four  comers  of  any  trapezium* — ^Ijl  Cortbg.  He  served 
as  the  common  measure^  or  mean  proportional  between  the 
different  sides. — ^Falk.  He  was  also  a  member  of  no  less  than 
two  Colleges,  and  principal  of  a  third. 

Besides  those  portraits  of  the  primates.  Marsh  and  Seeker^ 
there  is  also  one  of  Charles  the  First,  who  gave  an  endowment 
of  a  Fellowship  for  Jersey  and  Guernsey  to  this  CoUqpe. 
Edgar*  At  what  period  of  his  reign  did  he  give  this  ? — 
Fajlk.  I  am  not  informed  when  ;  but  it  is  worthy  to  be  re- 
corded, as  this  is  one  of  the  very  few  benefactions,  I  believe, 
that  emanated  from  his  family  to  any  of  the  Colleges  bere^ — Ii» 
CoRTBG.  You  will  allow  this  had  some  claim  upon  him  ;  for 
it  surrendered  to  his  mint  14,760  ounces  (19,680  ounces 
estimated  by  another  measure)  of  plate.  I  say  snrrendeiedy 
for  it  was  not  without  some  reluctance. — ^Edgar.  Not  on 
the  receiver's  part  I  suppose  ?  Il  Cortbg.  No  :  this  re- 
luctance was  not  entirely  either  on  account  of  its  antiquity  or 
beauty ;  for  it  was  ^pon  a  promise  of  having  an  equal  amount 
returned.  "  Which  promise,"  says  Wade,  ^  it  is  needless 
to  say,  was  never  once  performed/' 

Falk.  The  hftU  takes  up  most  of  the  south  side ;  the 


EXETER  COLLEGE. 

ehapel  and  the  lodgings  of  the  rector  are  on  the  north.— Il 
CoRTBG.  Tliere  is  nothing  particularly  distingaishable  here 
in  these  lodgings,  &c.  of  the  society,  three  stories  high^  as 
usual  with  double  narrow  windows ;  in  some  colleges  round, 
in  others  pointed,  placed  beneath  a  squaie  moulding,  so 
that  even  the  picture  of  one  would  nearly  serve  for  all. 
However,  they  are  pleasing  to  the  sight;  and  I  should  never 
grow  tired  of  them — but  in  eternal  description*  The  hall  is 
so  large,  and  of  so  ecclesiastical  an  outside,  that,  as  Ml^ 
Wade  observes,  any  one  might  mistake  it  for  the  chapel; 
were  it  not  that  they  have  very  ingeniously  and  kindly 
inscribed  over  the  door  of  the  latter,  *'  this  is  the  chapel^** 
lest,  as  he  supposes,  we  should  mistake  the  other  for  if. 
They  have  taken  the  additional  pains  of  inscribing  over  its 
eight  windows,  ^'  ihis  is  the  house  of  prayer  ;"  and  it  might 
be  equally  necessary  and  appropriate  Co  place  this  further 
inscription  over  the  door  of  the  Rector,  *^thi$  is  the  house  of 
watching ;"  and  over  that  of  the  hall,  ^'  tkis  is  the  house  of 
fasting."  The  armorial  bearings  over  the  gateway  at  the 
entrance,  might  have  a  motto,  recommending  humility  and 
patience :  and  thus  College-architecture  might  become  a 
complete  course  of  the  college  virtues. 

It  IB  mentioned  as  a  peculiarity  in  the  Chapel  here  that 
it  has  tfoo  aisles :  in  one  of  them,  lectures  on  divinity  are 
read.  The  ceiling  is  painted  to  represent  a  grained  roof, 
having  all  the  delicate  intersections  belonging  thereto,  along 
with  fret-work,  &c. 

They  have  in  the  library  mdst  of  the  Aldine  classics,  with 
a  fine  copy  of  that  extremely  rare  and  valuable  collection  of 
Voyages,  bj  De  Bry.  Tou  have  seen  the  building  itself 
in  the  garden  ?— Ladt  6.  Yes.  It  would  make  an  excellent 
green-house. 


OZOHIA  BZPIiZCATA   BT   ORVATA 


Bt  this  time  Lady  Gertrude  and  her  party  had  made  half 
the  circuit  of  the  Colleges,  and  were  pretty  well  acquainted 
with  die  city-    But  for  the  facility  with  which  every  infor- 
motioD  relating  to  Oxford  was  laid  open  to  them^  they  felt 
themadvea  much  indebted  to  the  attentions  of  the  Chap- 
lain* of  All  Souls,  Registrar  of  the  University.    It  would 
be  idle  to  introduce  as  a  new  acquaintance  to  the  reader, 
who  is  St  all  conversant  in  the  literature  of  this  and  the 
last  centoryi  so  celebrated  a  name  as  that  of  the  author  of 
the  OoUedanea  Curiasa,  and  editor  of  Anthony  a  Wood^s 
HiiUffy  and  ArMquUie$  of  the  University  of  Oxford.    He 
shewed  to  the  company  every  thing  remarkable,  at  his  owq 
CoHege  (which  we  shall  come  to  presentiy),  and  this  with  an 
astf duity  and  a  freueHoncey  that  proved  how  truly  polite  a 
learned  Oxonian  can  be ;  and  bow  [nracticable  and  amiable 
it  is  in  a  clergyman  to  exercise  the  affiibility  which  suits  the 
tone  of  the  world,  and  to  render  himself  acceptable  to  hymeo, 
In  What  is  innocent«^to  mixed  companies,  composed  of  both 
sexes^  and  of  *  diverst6ed  ranks,  without  compromising  the 
dignity  and  sacied  character  of  \ih  cdling.    Though  at  ^ 
sent,  upwards  of  fourscore  years  of  age,  he  has  all  die  acti- 
vity, the  liveliness,  and  the  vigour  of  a  man  df  five  and  durty. 
I4ots0titfied^whh  merely  acq(uiiting  himself  in  this  manner,  of 
the  coortiesies  birr  letters  of  introduction  requested  of  him^  he 
ienttoLadyOertntde  various  puUicationsupoiiX)xford,  which 
he  knew  would  interest  her  and  the  Cortegiano.   The  book- 
sellers' shops  supplied  us  with  the  tracts  of  the  learned  Rector 
(or  head)  of  Lincoln  College ;  of  whom  every  one  will  think 
with  respect,  whether  as  the  head  of  a  College,  or  as  a  writer. 


OXONIA  EXPLICATA  fiT  ORNATA. 

With  all  the  energy  of  genius^  he  was  not  without  the  peeu-* 

liarities  of  that  turn  of  mindj  seeing  his  siAjeet  strongly^  voA 

expressing  himself  eloquently  and  vehemently*  His  manner^ 

]>erhaps9  was  to  some  ears  too  high-toned  ;  hut  attracting  by  a 

fioivete,  which  we  always  are  sensible  of  whenever  the  heart 

^eaks }  and  by  that  heroic  temper  that  dares  to  be  right* 

In  certain  pointsj  howeverj  as  no  one  is  infallihiej  he  may 

have  been  wroz^  unconsciously  :^-at  leasts  he  has  been 

Thought  singular  to  a  degree^  bordering  on  the  romaotic^  and 

even  the  visionary*    But,  even  if  this  were  allowed^  it  is  ex* 

cusable  on  those  subjects  that  lie  within  the  regions  of  imBf* 

gination^  mther  than  speculation,  or  m»e  reasoniog^  and 

demonstration.    His  publication  upon  the  improv^nenCs  of 

Oxford  was  lying  upon  the  table;   and  lady  Gertrude 

addressing  herself  to  the  Coiti^g^QOj  asked  him  frankly  to 

give  the  company  some  account  of  that  treatise,  somewhoS 

in  the  manner  of  a  re  view,  of  it :  when  he  complied  as  follows. 

Ii.  CoftTBG.  The  principi^l  ei^preases,  I  think,  rather  a 

droit  regret,  at  the  improvements  of  .Oxford,  having  been  so 

^reat,  that  be  could  ofii  recollect  some  critical  animadveraioiis 

he  bad  mfide  five  and  foirty  yeaxa  ago.  .  But,  he  is  poaitive, 

that  he  was  for  having  Magdalen-btid|^  eight,  if  npt  twelve^ 

feet  wider,  than  it  now  is^    He  reoommenda  the  heads  of 

the  Univerrity,  therefore,  immediately  to  set  irtroiuoiisly 

about  taking  down  the  whde  south  wall  of  it  with .  care ; 

and  ftfter  lengthening  all  the  arches  12  feet,  then  to  put  up 

the  wall  again  with  equal  care.    This  trouble  might  hure 

been  obviated,  if  attoilion/hftd  been  .paid  to  his  boyish  efl* 

nions  s— and  as  it  wds  not,,  he  thought  proper  to.puUirii  that 

along  With.soote  0iher  of  his  boyish  opiniMs.    He  lataeafes 

fedmglif^  Aat  the  finediawings  of  artists  are  mere  eye^bils : 

adding  these  words :  5'  that  such   tmpi.  should  deceive 

women  and  children,  cannot  excite  our  wonder  r.but  that: it 

should  have  taken  in  old  and  Jgrave  logidans,  in  fuU^bot^ 


DIALOGUE  \jPON  OXFORD. 

tmMd  migif  u  the  more  surprising ;  who^  after  the  bridge 
was  thus  built  twelve  feet  too  narrow,  indignant  at  the  ani* 
niadversions  of  ihe  boy,  but  feeling  the  impression  these  had 
made  on  the  public  mind,  in  order  to  Tindicate  the  plan  of  their 
own  adoption,  and  to  prove  that  the  bridge  was  strictly  of  suffi- 
cient width,  were  seen  marching  solemnlyover  it,  in  thw^/kB- 
boitams,  with  two  waggons  abreast,  and  walking  (like  so 
many  pursuivants),  one  of  them  on  each  side.  After  all  this 
gmve  and  solemn  dead-march,  it  was,  however,  found  neces- 
sary to  contract  the  pavement  on  the  south  side  to  less  than 
half  its  widths  as  it  continues  to  thb  present  day. 

He  declares  very  decidedly,  though  he  does  not  favour  the 
reader  with  the  groundi  of  his  decision,  that  irregularity  is 
the  idea  in  which  all  Gothic  building  particularly  delights ; 
by  which  it  is  distinguished,  and  advantageously  so,  ac- 
cording to  him,  from  Grecian,  Roman,  or  Italian  Ardiitectme. 

Ladt  G.  For  my  part,  I  have  known  some  dramatic 
writers  as  irregular  certainly,  as  Shakespeare :  bat  whose 
plays  it  was  altogether  impossible  to  sit  out  the  represen- 
tation of,  or  to  bear  the  reading  one  line  of,  in  the  ck»et 
«^Ijl  Coriso.  After  obaerving  that  the  Water-vralk  has  been 
improved,  and  doubtlessly  in  consequence  ^^  of  his  hmU,** 
he  utters  a  moanful  lamentation  over  the  founder's  oak ; 
which  died,  I  believe,  for  want  of  breath,  at  the  untimely 
age  of  500  years  only.  He  then  takes  leave  (not  in  tfie 
French  w^,  but  liker  honest  John  Bull),  of  the  PresidoM 
and  Fellows,  of  Magdalen  College;  apologbing  for  some 
ottier  liberties  he  has  taken  in  voting  away  (upon  paper) 
their  fonds;  and  he  has  given  them  in  all  conscience,  it 
must  be  confessed^  fiilly  enough  to  do  with  the  remainder. 

He  next  turns  his  eye  npon  another  College,  which  naeets 
him«-LADTG.  Halfway^  I  suppose.— IlCortbo.  Yea,  (but I 
suspect  it  would  rather  wnh  not  to  have  met  him,  but  that  be 
had  turned  the  comer  and  missed  it)>     It  meets  bim^  bow- 


OXONIA  BXPUCATA  ET  ORNATA. 

ever,  as  he  moves  op  High  Street ;  a  C!ollege  that  be  goosw 
ders  as  more  highly  intitled  to  his  '^  critical  favoaiSj  because 
under  greater  obligatioDs."  As  to  these  obligatioBs  and 
&V0UIS9  whom  from,  or  to,  the  reader  is  left  wholly  in  the 
dark.  He  observes  truly,  that  its  beautiful  buildings  have  a 
puier  elegance,  simplicity,  and  unity  of  plan,  than  those  of 
any  other  College :  in  which  any  person  of  taste  will  recpg** 
nise  Queen's  College,  and  acquiesce.  However,  he  is 
for  taking  out  only  all  their  sashes,  and  tumbling  down  the 
stone  screen  which  divides  it  from  the  street  replacing  it 
with  an  iron  palisade* 

The  Rector  ^'  cannot  pass  by  Edmund  Hall,  though  out 
of  his  then  road''  (but  this  by  the  bye),  ^<  without  leaving  a 
compUmaU  to  the  Principal  of  it,  for  the  improvements  made 
in  the  lodgings  of  thai  house." — Lady  G.  And  I  suppose, 
in  order  to  attract  more  of  such  compliments,  there  is  in 
Edmund  Hall  a  good  deal  of  room  left  by  him  for  still  fur^ 
thtr  inifTOveuuwi* 

II  Cobtbg.  *^  In  the  former  editions  he  passed  this  way 

to  open  a  new  and  splendid  street,  by  the  mere  removal  ef 

old  buildinge :"  by  which  he  means  the  carting  away  the 

Chapel,Halls,  and  President's  lodgingonly,  and  foundations  of 

Hert  Hall  1   Ladt  G.  This  was  upon  paper  t  suppose  ?— Jl 

Cobtbg.  Yes,  and  as  that  costs  nothing,  I  have  been  inugin- 

ing  a  similar  improvement  of  my  own.  It  is  in  order  to  afibid 

a  view  of  what  was  once  the  Turl,  (a  *^  nuisance"  replaced 

now  by  what  the  Rector  calls  **  handsome  houses),"  likewise  a 

view  of  Exeter-garden,  the  walls  of  which  the  Rector  recom* 

mends  to  be  lowered  for  that  express  purpose ;  when  we  shall 

have  a  peep  of  the  library  that  we  mistook  for  a  green-house : 

and  also  farther,  in  order  to  affinrd  a  view  of  the  finest  but* 

eber's  stalls  in  England.    Now,  for  this  purpose  I  would 

humbly  propose  to  cl^ar  away  all  the  buildiogs  whatever. 

pent-houses,  and  other  old  walls.  Chapel,  Hall,  Library,  &c. 


DIAI^OODB   tJPON  OXFORD.     ^ 

contained  between  the  Ude  of  Exeter  College^  Brazen  Nos« 
College,  AH  Saint's  Charch,  and  the  said  shamUes  rixive- 
mentioned ;  leaving  the  whole  space  smack  and  smooth 
clean,  and  well  swept  as  any  grevel-walfc* — ^Ladt  6«  Bat 
at  tins  late  yon  would  conjure  away  eveiy  stone  of  Lincain 
Colkge^-would  you  not  ?«— Alf.  1  would  send  that  only 
after  Hert  HalK-^FAUc.  I  had  rather  see  diem  bath,  Od- 
lege  and  Hall,  standing,  I  confess ;  for.  I  cannot  agree  with 
the  worthy  Rector  as  to  the  application  of  his  word  espK- 
ewr$f  wl|ioh  I  thought  was  rather  to  open,  develope,  and 
unfold,  than  to  pull  down  and  cart  away.  If  Sx^ie&im 
means,  Oxvoro  guiied,  in  his  manner,  I  cannot  see  how 
his  other  attribute  of  amaia  could  stand;  or,  in  short,  that 
Qxted  would  retain  any  ornament,  or  body  to  ornament, 
at  all. 

Ladt  G.  I  confess  I  like  die  good  old  honsea  built  in 
the  time  of  the  Tudors,  after  the  plain  Saxon  way;  and  the 
Halls  delight  me  more  than  the  Colleges,  not  excepting 
Queen's  College  itself. — JElf.  Oxford  would  be  a  dismal, 
Mcomfertable  place  without  them,  full  of  deserted  palaces 
and  shirering  endowments  1-^Falk.  The  contrast,  too,  of 
these  homely  structures,  the  old  houses  and  cottages  of  the 
inhftbttants,  I  think  necessary  to  give  relief  to  the  beaaty 
and  grandeur  of  their  chtoches  and  colleges. — ^Let  us  leave 
it  to  the  fantastic  Horace  Walpole  to  detigfatin  an  iscriated,  at 
rather  detf oUited,  Radeliffe  Square,  to  please  hb  gkxmiy  iiUle 
grandeur,  Ipversick  romance,  and  very  dandyism  of  taste^ 
laced  in  tight  stays  of  mdl  at  Strawberry  HilL— Ii.  Cortbg. 
This  improvement  of  mine  would  have  the  additkmal  ad-» 
vantage  of  opening  one  street,  or  pkzza  of  communication, 
on  the  north  side  of  High  Street,  of  which  the  Rector  regrets 
so  much  the  want  at  present  <<  It  is  not  so  mueh  addi<* 
tional  buiMings  that  Oxford  wants,  as  to  expose  to  view 
those  it  has  already,"-^bat  is-^by  pulling  down  one  half-^ 
to  expose  the  other. 


OXONIA  BXPLICATA  ET  ORNATA. 

In  this  spirit  of  improvemeot  he  recominends  '^  the 
pulling  down  New  College  Cloisters ;  uod^  4i^ier  they  are 
fmUed  iiaum  (yoa  will  observe)^  .the  protecting  them  fcom 
pro&nation  with  an  iron  tail,  which  eould  not  obftntct  the 
sight. — ^Falk.  The  sight  of  what  ?-^Il  Cortbg.  Sic  e$t 
in  MSS. 

LiAmr  G.  Of  coarse  the  Warden  of  New  College  would 
exclaim  at  making  so  large  a  sacrifice. — Ih  Cortbg»  That 
the  Rector  anticipates ;  and  by  way  of  compensation  for 
this  liberty  he  has  taken  (as,  indeed,  we  may  well. call  it),  he 
graciously  claps  him  up  in  a  tower,  which  he  promises  shall 
rival  that  of  Wolsey, 

He  then  gives  a  pretty  bro^d  hint  to  the  Chancellor 
of  the  University,  and  a  most  excellent  hint  it  is,  to 
be  sure ;  only  for  one-reason :  viz.  that  it  has  not  taken* 
After  tempting  him  with  the  above  special  opportunity  for 
his  mmmficenct^  he  undertakes  that,  if  he  will  by  hia  in- 
fluence and  wealth  produce  such  another  dreary,  lifeless 
desert  on  the  east  side  of  the  schools  that  there  exists  now 
on  the  south,  annihilating  Hert  Hall  at  the  same  time  y  that 
in  the  new  void  space  thus  restored,  there  shall  be  an  effigy 
of  him ;  and  diat  the  whole  solitude  shall  go  by  the  name 
of  GrenviUe  Square. 

Ladt  G.  I  wonder  the  chancellor  was  not  seduced  all 
at  once  by  this  tempting  offen  At  all  events,  I  trust  the 
statue  will  be  made  of  brass ;  a  juster  emblem, .  I  should 
think,  of  such  public  spirit,  than  gold,  silver,  or  marble 
would  be,  of  that  cold  defunct  virtue,  munificence. 

I  perfectly  agree  with  the  Rector^  however,  as  to  that 
porch  or  twisted  columns  over  the  doorway  of  St.  Maryfs* 
This  was  a  barbarous  imitation  of  a  most  barbarous  awning, 
called  a  baldaquin,  under  the  dome  of  St.  Peter's,  at  £ome« 
UGoRTBO.  But  the  baldaquin  is  of  bronze,  not  of  stone; 
and  it  is  a  mere  {uec^  of  furniture,  a  canopy,  not  a  buildii]{g» 


DIAtOGUB  UPON   OXFORD. 

Edgar.  But  is  that  expression  of  the  rector's  logical,  where 
he  proposes  an  altematiFe,  or  a  dilemma,  with  two  boms  of 
this  odd  make,  that  if  yon  reject  thai  one,  and  take  this,  you 
have  both  ?  His  words  are,  ^'  this  porch  should  be  totally 
taken  away,  or  another  erected  in  its  place :''  unless  that 
word  or,  according  to  the  adjudged  logic  of  the  inns  of  coart, 
be  construed  and,  I  am  at  a  loss  how  to  understand  him. 
Falx.  I  would  defy  Chillingworth  himself  to  reccmcile  that 
lo  the  logic  taught  at  Oxford,  of  the  exploded  Aristotle. — 
Ix.  CoRTBo.  But  you  must  know,  that  the  Rector,  througfaout 
his  works,  and  even  in  this  very  one,  his  Osnmia  EspUemia 
ei  OmatUf  lays  main-basse  upon  poor  prostrate  logic :  and 
he  does  the  same  even  in  the  title  of  this  very  tract ;  for  his 
argument  certainly  goes  to  prove,  that  Oxford  <'  Explicala 
becomes  ipso  iacto  omata ;"  in  other  words,  all  Oxford  will 
become,  half  of  U  adorned,  if  you  cart  away  tAe  other  half. 

But  his  public  spirit  you  must  admire  certainly,  and  real 
munificence,  where  speaking  of  the  tottering  state  of  St« 
Mary's  steeple,  some  years  ago,  when  *^  to  satisfy  the  feais 
of  9omB  old  women  in  the  neighbourhood,  tvho^*-^ 

Ladt  G.  I  presume,  from  the  tenor  of  that  and  some 
other  of  his  discourses,  that  this  sly  insinuation  is  not  pointed 
at  our  sex  exclusively ;  but  is  meant  to  include  a  description 
of  perrons  who  do  not  wear  petticoats? 

Il  Cortbg.  I  shrewdly  suspect  your  conjecture  is  right; 
and  that  he  has  here  in  his  eye  certain  full  bottoms,  who 
.  took  it  into  their  heads  to  be  alarmed  at  the  shaking  of  the 
steeple,  and  whose  heads,  he  seems  to  think,  might  well 
contain  a  little  presence  of  mind,  and  something  more, 
without  dbplacing  the  full  complement  of  their  present 
contents. — Mlw.  But  to  go  on. — ^II  Corteg.  When  the 
present  spire,  one  of  the  most  magnificent  specimens  of  the 
pointed  style  perhaps  in  the  world,  was  some  years  ago  to  be 
repaired,  the  Rector  de^atched  in  all  haste  a  nQte  to  the 


OXONIA  EXPLICATA  ET  ORXATA. 

Vice  Chaoceltor^  offering,  that  if  the  tempting  opportunity 
DOW  presenting  itself^  were  embraced  of  taking  down  the 
whole  spire  to  the  base,  and  re^'building  it  to  its  former 
height,  which  might  cost,  the  Lord  knows  what — ^thousands, 
perhaps-^he  would  give  him  no  less  a  sum  than — ten  pounds* 

Ladt  G.  To  this  warm  overture,  I  understand,  the  Chan*;* 
cellor  returned  an  answer  as  cold  as  ice.-^lL  Corteg.  Yet 
still  the  Rector,  though  mistaken  there,  is  posiiitxe  that  such 
a  note  sent  to  the  public,  would  have  rabed  a  vast  sum ; 
adding,  however,  that  the  genius  and  learning  of  that  Vice 
Chancellor,  were  of  an  opposite  description  to  those  of'*^ 
LiAOT  G :  himself,  I  suppose. 

Edgar.  And  of  course  must  have  been  poor  and  insignifi^ 
cant  f — ^Faul.  No  doubt ;  for  these  sort  of  compliments,  you 
know,  cannot  fairly  be  expected  to  reflect  upon  the  liberal 
giver  of  them ;  it  would  be  exacting  too  much  from  their 
well-known  modesty  and  impartiality  in  judging  their  own 
merit. — Mvwn  A  subject  upon  which  a  man  generally  knows 
more  than  all  the  world  besides.-^EDGAR.  I  like  the  taste 
and  gallantry  of  the  old  boy  though ;  when  in  speaking 
of  the  lovely  statue  of  the  Magdalene  in  the  church-steeple 
of  that  name,  he  roundly  declares,  that  she  is  ivorthy, 
not  indeed  of  adoration^  absolutely,   but  of  admiratiort. 

Il  CofttBG.  A-piece  with  the  other  improvements  of 
our  ironical  Rector,  he  recommends  the  Observatory  also 
to  be  taken  down  to  the  ground  |  giving  the  proceeds  of 
the  side  of  the  instruments  and  materials-^to  the  Infirmary* 

E]>GAR.  However,  we  should  add  in  candour,  that  in  hit 
opinion,  the  new  system  of  public  discipline,  operates  so 
as  to  render  tins  munificent  foundation^  (which  was  intended 
for  initiating  the  students  in  the  sublimest  department  of  na* 
tural  philosophy),  absolutely,  or  mainly,  useless.  *'  Not  a 
student  ever  b  now  seen  to  pass  through  the  gate*  It  is^ 
therefore,  '^  according  to  him,"  only  a  standing  monument  of 

H 


DIALOGUE  UPON    OXFORD. 

the  absurdity  of  the  ezbting  university  disciplme,  and  might 
as  well  be  away  altogether/' 

Lady  G.  The  students  being  reminded  that  there  is 
auch  a  muse  as  Astronomy,  might  pine  after  her;  or  com- 
plaia  bitterly,  as  some  strangers  do,  that  it  is  impossible  to 
get  a  glimpse  of  her,  at  Oxford. 

IlCortbg.  But,  seriously,  I  applaud  the  honest  and  manly 
spirit  of  the  worthy  rector,  notwithstanding.  I  think,  only, 
the  acrimony  of  dispate  might  have  been  neutralized  by  the 
oil  or  Attic  salt  (call  it  which  you  will),  of  a  little  harmless 
irony.  His  concluding  recommendation  is  worthy  of  a 
virtuous  Englishman,  and  should  attract  the  notice  of  Par- 
liament. It  is  by  an  equitable  valuation  of  the  interests  of 
the  University  us  landlords^  and  of  the  citizens  as  tenants,  to 
encourage  the  latter  to  improve  the  town  under  iree  leases, 
which  would  augment  and  make  certain  and  steady  the  rents 
of  the  former.  No  room  would  then  be  left  for  any  on- 
pleasant  feelings  between  the  University  and  the  town. 
I  admire  the  liberal  and  handsome  avowal  he  makes :  ^  he 
has  lived,''  he  says,  ^*  among  them,  many  year^ ;  and  what- 
ever the  citizens  might  have  been  in  old  and  barbarous 
times,"  (when,  too,  the  University  itself  might  have  been 
proportionably  barbarous  on  its  side),  <'  he  has  always 
found  the  inhabitants  of  Oxford  most  respectful  and  res- 
pectable people;  civil  in  their  behaviour,  liberal  in  their  ideas, 
decent  in  their  manners  ;  while  their  conduct  towards  the 
Gownsmen,  whom  they  consider  as  their  benefactors,  is,  in 
general,  not  only  worthy  of  approbation,  but  applause." 

Lady  G.  He  was  once  very  severe  upon  Vicesimus  B^ox. 

Il  Cortbo.  I  own  I  like  the  spirit  of  the  worthy  Rector, 
who  will  not  allow  any  one  to  be  rude  to  Madam  Alma 
Mater,  or  to  push  her  about — but  himself. 


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lilMOOIiM  OOIiIiBOB. 


Falk.  What  18  II  Cortegiano  smiling  at  with  so  much 
complacency? — II  Cortbg.  I  am  particularly  carious  to  see 
this  quarter^  having  been  told  that  there  is  a  very  correct 
likeness  here  of  bis  satanic  majesty.     He  is  drawn  looking 
over  this  college  (with  envy  no  doubt)  ^  and  is  said  to  honour 
it  with  his  most  malignant  regard.   Falk.  You  allude^  I  sup- 
pose, to  a  statue  of  the  devil  ?  which,  if  it  ever  stood  near 
this  spot,  has  decamped,  this  sometime.    I  can  get  no  other 
intelligence  of  its  movements,  than  that  perhaps  it  may  be 
heard  of  at  Lincoln  city:  which  place  the  devil  may,  indeed, 
look  askance  at,  possessing  as  it  does  such  a  CathedraL — II 
Cortbg.  Is  it  fromy  or  towards,  the  Cathedral  that  he  was 
observed  to  direct  his  eyes  ? — Faxk.  Thcti  is  not  specified 
in  my  information :  there  is  some  confusion  in  the  accounts- 
some,  and  that  not  a  little  variation  in  the  authorities,  that 
might  be  called  even  contradictory. — It  Cortbg.  You  do  not 
mean  that  he  approached  this  place  in  the  character  of 
visiter  ? — Falk.  Certainly  not :   though  in  common  with 
tlie  other  colleges,  this  one  has  been  visited  by  devils  in  the 
shape  of  commissioners. — ^II  Cortbg.  Some  say  his  appa- 
rition has  been  seen  by  night,  '^  in  shape,  countenance,  and 
feature,''  not  unlike  a  proctor.*— Faxk.  Aye :  as  a  pro-rproctor, 
J  suppose.— -Il  Cortbg.  fiut,  as  the  devil  took  his  station 
here  so  long,  I  should  like  to  know  whether  he  ever  took  hb 
degree? — ^Falk.  No;  the  oath  of  abjuration  stuck  in  his 
throat,  and  he  ran  off  after  being  plucked ;  but  npt  empty- 
handed. — ^Ii.  Cortbg.  What  did  he  carry  off  with  him  ? — 
Falk.  All  Aristotle's  works  t  so  that  ever  since  that  spoliation 
of  the  original,  it  has  beep  9. question  whether  to  adknqw* 

h2 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

ledge  any  copy,  or  edition  of  it — ^Ii.  Cortbg.  He  has 
certainly  possessed  all  the  commentators  ever  since. — ^Falr. 

I  am  heartily  sorry  for  it  -,  for  since  the  beginning  of  time, 
with  the  exception  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton  only,  there  never 
existed  a  mind  equal  to  that  of  the  mighty  Stagyrite.  *^  He 
looked  all  nature  through/' 

It  Cortbg.  Pray  what  is  the  course  of  studies  pursued 
here  at  present  ?— Falr.  That  is  a  subject  which  we  most 
devote  a  whole  day,  to-morrow,  to  the  discussion  of;  after 
having  viewed  this  College,  together  with  the  five  Halls 
whose  buildings  are  in  the  same  character ;  plain  and  com- 
fortable, as  in  the  times  of  the  true  old  English  hospitality 

and  plenty. 

Lady  G.  I  think,  as  uniformity  is  the  character  of  Exeter 
and  Wadham  Colleges,  the  character  of  Lincohi  is  a  certain 
homely  simplicity,  a  rusticity  in  the  old  English  way,  that 
is  very  taking ;  and  which  seems  in  a  better  taste,  at  least 
better  suited  to  the  object  of  these  establishments,  than  the 
most  magnificent  temples  and  palaces. — ^Falr.  Its  buildings 
are  readily  conceived  and  summed  up :  two  small  courts, 
one  a  square  of  eighty,  the  other  of  seventy  feet.  We  hav^ 
as  we  shall  see  presently  at  Magdalen  and  New  Colleges,  a 
small  and  very  plain  square  tower,  turretted  at  one  angle. — 

II  Cortbg.  That  turretting,  I  suppose>  is  for  the  staircase, 
which  the  architect  had  not  room  for,  or  foigot,  as  he  had 
scaffolding  for  his  workmen's  use,  and  he  ingeniously  added 
it  afterwards. — ^Falr.  The  first  court  contains  (with  apart- 
ments for  the  society),  the  library,  the  rector's  lodge  at  the 
south-east  corner  adjoining  to  the  hall  on  the  east  side.  The 
south  court  contains  the  chapel,  together  with  some  rustie 
buildings. 

It  Cortbg.  The  whole  structure,  Mr.  Brewer  observes, 
is  of  small  elevation,  as  was  uniformly  the  case  with  the 
moftt  ancient  collegiate  structures.    It  was  la  the  reign  of 


LINCOLN  COLLEGE, 

James  the  firsts  I  believe,  that  most  of  the  quadrangles  of 
these  colleges  were  raised  another  story :  this  has  spoilt  the 
proportions  of  several-^as  of  New  College^  for  example.  It 
is  for  that  reason,  that  this  plain  old  hospitable  mansion  of 
Lincoln  appears  to  most  advantage  when  classed  before  the 
halb,  as  it  has  been  in  our  examination  of  them. 

Falk.  In  1818,  the  front  of  this  College  was  repaired, 
and  much  improved  by  opening  it,  as  you  see,  towards  the 
south,  to  All  Saints'  Church,  formerly  a  part  of  its  establish- 
ment* Windows  in  the  pointed-arch  style  were  also  added, 
together  with  battlements ;  no  doubt  under  the  advice  of  its 
head,  the  present  worthy  Rector,  author  of  the  Oxonia 
£xPLiCATA  BT  Ornata,  wc  havc  been  just  examining. 

Over  the  common-room,  in  the  first  court,  is  the  Library, 
which  contains,  among  other  things,  some  curious  MSS.  col- 
lected by  Sir  George  Wheler,  during  his  travels  in  the  Levant. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  smaller  court  stands  the  chapel, 
in  the  pointed  style,  having  on  its  south  side  again  a  parapet 
and  most  elegant  bay-window.  The  screen  dividing  ofi^  the 
ante-chapel,  is  of  cedar,  and  is  formed  of  fluted  Corinthian 
columns,  ornamented  with  carving.  (I  shall  suggest,  before 
we  part,  what  ought  to  be  done  with  these  fine  Corinthian 
screens.)  The  ceiling,  also,  is  of  cedar,  elegantly  carved 
in  compartments.  With  the  arms  of  different  benefactors 
are  alternately  represented  (in  the  midst  of  much  painting 
and  gilding),  festoons,  palm-branches,  and  cherubims.  At 
each  end  of  the  desks  are  placed  eight  figures  of  cedar, 
executed  with  admirable  proportions  and  elegance:  these 
represent  Moses,  Aaron,  the  four  Evangelists,  St.  Peter,  and 
St.  Paul. 

But  what  is  most  noticed  in  this  chapel  is  the  east  window, 
representing  the  curious  analogy  between  the  events  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  or  between  the  types  of  our  Saviour  and 
their  completion*    These  aie^  in  the  Old  Testament,  the 


DIALOOUB  UPON   OXFORD. 

Creatton^  the  miraculoui  pasiage  of  ihe  Israelites  duough 
the  Red  Sea,  the  passover,  the  brazen  serpent  in  the  wilder- 
ness^ Jonah  delivered  from  the  whale's  belly,  Elijah  in  the 
fiery  chariot.  These  have  been  considered  antetypes  to  the 
nativity,  the  baptism  of  our  Lord,  the  institution  of  the  lart 
supper,  the  crucifixion,  the  resurrection,  and  ascenaon. — 
II  Cortbo.  In  these,  the  deluge  is  omitted.-^FAi.K.  I  only 
mention  the  subject  as  it  is  given  here. — These  things  are 
too  high  for  me. 

Il  Cortbo.  it  is  remarkable  enough  that  the  founder  of 
this  College,  Flemyng,  Bbhop  of  Lincoln^  while  a  young  theo- 
Ipgian,  was  a  zealous  follower  of  Wiclifie  $  and  that  four  yean 
before  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1431,  he  founded  this 
College  purposely  to  form  a  school  of  divines,  in  oppo- 
sition to  Wiclifie.  At  the  council  of  Vienna,  in  1424,  be 
distinguished  himself  greatly.  That  council,  you  know,  was 
convened  expressly  to  oppose  the  progress  of  the  Reformers. 
He  had  not  carried  the  design  of  the  College  much  further 
into  execution  than  in  the  purchase  of  its  site.  The  insti- 
tution languished  till  1471,  when  Thomas  Scott  de  Rothe- 
ram,  also  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  became  a  kind  of  second 
founder  by  his  very  liberal  patronage ;  and  also  by  drawing 
up  a  body  of  statutes  for  its  government. 

Edgar.  Sir  William  Davenant,  the  poet,  was  of  this 
College. — Faul^  Yes ;  and  a  native  of  Oxford.  His  father 
kept  an  inn  at  the  sign  of  the  crown,  near  Caerfax  ChurcL 
The  father  was  a  great  admirer  of  plays,  and  particularly 
attached  to  Shakespeare,  who  often  put  up  at  his  inn  during 
hb  joumies  between  London  and  Stratford  upon  Avon* 

Davenant  was  called  ^<  the  sweet  swan  of  Isis/'  Wood 
says,  '^  he  obtained  some  smattering  of  logic  at  lincoln 
College,  when  under  Dr.  Hough.  He  had. been  educated, 
indeed,  in  grammatic  learning,  but  his  jprny,  which  was 
always  lively,  led  him  opposite  to  it,  into  the  pleasant 


•*.    -u'  .'t 


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I 


always  iiveiy,  led  him  opposite  to  it,  into  tlie  pleasant 


UKCOLlff  COLLEGE; 

paths  of  poetry ;  so  thak^  though  he  wanted  much  of  Uqi* 
wrshy  learnings  yet  he  made  as  high  and  noble  fights  in 
the  poetical  faeuky^  as  fancy  could  advance  without  it/' 

Mlw.  How  conie9  it  that  in  the  world  physicians  are 
called  the  faculty,  by  way  of  emidence  ? — ^Falx.  I  cannot  say. 

Dr.  Hicks,  author  of  the  Thesaurus,  was  also  of  Jjincoln  3 
Grey,  who  wrote  the  Memoria  Technica ;  Henrey,  author  of 
the  Meditations ;  Tindal,  the  sceptic :  Kilbie  and  Brett^ 
two  of  the  translators  of  the  Bible.  Such  names  as  these 
two  last,  ought  never  to  be  forgotten  by  their  respective  Col- 
leges, as  they  will  not  by  the  public  so  long  as  we  are  a 
nation.  We  may  here  place,  also,  Saunderson,  who  com- 
posed that  fine  prayer  in  the  liturgy,  *'  for  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  men,"  as  well  the  ^'  general  thanksgiving. 
How  yearning  with  charity  must  the  heart  of  that  man  have 
been,  while  pouring  forth  those  two  eloquent  addresses  to  th<^ 
author  of  his  being.  He  was  highly  eulogised  by  Usher. 
<'  His  life  in  Walton  is  one  of  that  writer's  best.  His  mind 
given  to  rational  doubt,  was  deficient  in  decbion  and  promp- 
titude :  he  hesitated  long  and  rejected  so  often,  that  at  last  he 
was  obliged,''  says  Johnson,  *'  to  take  that  which  was  ready 
at  hand,  rather  than  what  he  judged  absolutely  the  best." 

Lincoln,  also,  sent  forth  John  Wesley,  founder  of  the 
sect  of  methodists. 

Another  tract  of  the  eloquent  and  ironical  Rector  of 
Lincoln  College,  engaged  our  whole  party  in  conversation 
for  the  greater  part  of  a  day ;  and,  therefore,  perhaps  the 
reader  would  beg  to  be  excused  from  hearing  any  more  of 
it  at  present.  It  is  probable  that  the  reader's  stomach  and 
digestive  faculties  will  have  been  pretty  well  surfeited  by  our 
discussion  on  the  Origin  and  Nature  of  the  University, 
which  we  are  now  going  to  dish.    But  to  omit  the  scope 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

and  iDteot  of  these  isstitutionSj  the  course  of  studies  followed 
mt  the  Univenity,  would  be  as  unpardonable  as  the  overnght 
of  the  great  Duke  of  Marlborough's  bi(^T>pher;  who  had 
letually  finished  his  work  and  sent  it  to  press,  irithout  ib 
haviogoccurred  to  htui  that  the  duke  had  been,once  a  General 
abo  i  But  we  ninat  reserve  thii  treat  for  the  end,  there 
being,  nnlucki)y,  no  room  for  it  in  the  middle.  In  this 
discussion,  II  Cortegiano  displayed  his  wonted  irony,  and 
Falkland  was  unusually  animated  and  vehement.  And 
what  is  unusual  in  most  lively  debates,  there  was  the  most 
perfect  concord  uid  harmony}  which  are  ever  the  result 
when  the  object  of  both  parties  is  not  to  display  their  f<nblea, 
but  the  truth — and  speak,  not  in  order  to  differ,  but  to  agree. 
However,  aa  1  wish  above  all  things  to  agree  with  tJte 
TBoder,  I  will  in  this  place  say  no  more  about  it.  He  may 
Aatter  himself  that  be  has  a  pleasure  to  come  only. 


TBS    FZVB    RAIiIiS. 


Falk.  Wb  can  view  in  the  aggregate  St.  AIban\  Si. 
Bdmund'Si  New  Inn,  St.  Mary's,  and  Mary  Magdalen 
Halls :  the  five  Inns^  including  what  lately  was  called  Hertford 
College  (now  extinct) ;  whose  site^  however^  is  now  occupied 
by  the  principal  and  society  of  the  last-named  Hall.  The 
third,  New  Inn  Hall,  b  without  students,  and  the  buildings 
dre  reduced  to  the  single  house  of  its  principal. — II  Cortbo. 
Id  what  do  they  differ  from  Colleges  ? — ^Falk.  These  socie- 
ties are  not  incorporated;  they  have  neither  livings  nor 
other  endowments.  The  salary  of  their  respective  prin- 
cipals arises  from  the  rent  of  chambers.  The  principals  are 
elected  by  the  members  subject  to  approval  by  the  chan- 
cellor of  the  University,  with  the  exception  of  that  of 
St.  Edmund's.  Of  this,  the  principal  is  appointed  by 
Queen's  Collq;e,  under  whose  patronage  this  Hall  still  re- 
mains. It  is  even  saM  that  the  chancellor  has  the  power  of 
directly  nominating  principab,  but  from  courtesy,  does  not 
exercise  that  privilege :  he  is  visitor  of  all  the  Halls.  The 
rest  were  formerly  dependent  upon  particular  Colleges.  The 
members  possess  all  academical  privileges  in  common  with 
the  students  in  colleges ;  their  dicipline,  course  of  studies^ 
tuition,  length  of  residence,  examination,  degrees,  and 
dress,  &c.  are  precisely  the  same  as  those  in  the  rest  of 
the  University. 

Edoab,  These  Halk  were  formerly  very  numerdus, 
Peshall  notices  above  200;  and  says,  on  the  authority  of 
Wood,  that  the  number  once  exceeded  SOO:  though  the 
names  of  some,  and  all  traces  of  the  situation  of  others, 
had  been  long  since,  even  in  his  time^  lost.    Other  writers 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

affirm,  that  the  namber  was  about  300  in  the  time  of  Ed- 
ward I. — ^II  Cortbg.  It  is  probable,  from  a  clause  io  the 
ancient  leases,  ^'  that  their  respective  landlords  should  not 
divert  them  from  the  purposes  of  education,  nor  demise 
them,  except  the  University  should  have  no  occasion  for 
the  same;  the  clauses  also,  '^  that  questions  of  nunng  rent 
&c.  were  to  be  referred  to  the  arbitration  of  two  masten  of 
the  University  on  one  side,  and  two  citizens  on  the  other  |" 
that  these  Halls  originally  belonged  to  the  University; 
or  have  been  granted  by  the  King,  the  church,  or  some 
munificent  private  benefactor;  clogged  with  this  burden 
in  favour  of  the  University.  It  is  admitted,  too,  that  these 
interests  existed  with  such  clauses  tacked  to  them  before  the 
foundation  of  any  College  now  existing.  This  alone  suffices 
to  prove,  that  Colleges  are  not  coeval  with  Oxford  as  a 
Uuiversity ;  and  that  tbe  assigning  modem  dates  to  CoU^es 
proves  nothing.  The  baw,  therefore,  of  Smyth's  aigu- 
i9ent,  of  University  College,  ftils ;  in  denying  any  claim  to 
antiquity  not  evidenced  by  ezisting  charters.  Jx  is  probaUe 
that,  if  charters  could  ascend  higher,  they  would  only  evi- 
dence a  still  l^gher  antiquity  than  that  now  on  record;  and 
it  is  oeitain  that  the  University  existed  beyond  the  assign- 
able date  of  any  charter  now  in  existence. 

His  aigument  is  to  shew— 1  st.  That  the  University  was 
not  of  that  antiquity  it  laid  daim  to;  for  it  must  not 
affirm  att^  thing  on  the  subject  beyond  the  date  of  its  exisl- 
ing  chatters.— 2d.  That  the  real  recorded  date  of  his  par- 
ticubur  College  (the  date  of  its  founder's  will),  ascended 
higher  than  that  of  any  other  particular  College.  This  firat 
point  cannot  be  maintained,  and  the  second  is  not  worth 
maintaining.  If  true,  it  nugbt  be  matter  of  vanity  to  Us 
paiiticuhur  College ;  but  could  nevinr  be  of  general  interest,  or 
eiran  of  particular  concern  to  any  one  else. 


OBIOI*    or   THB    VHXVBHStTT. 


Edgar.  What  was  the  origin  of  the  University  ? 

Faijl.  The  c»rigb  of  the  University  is  involved  in  the 
same  night  of  obscurity  as  the  origin  of  the  British  con- 
stitution itself;  both  are  ascribed  to  Alfred,  and  for  the 
same  reason. 

Ix.  CoETJBo.  ''  No  coqxnrate  body«  for  the  inieresU  qf 
learmngj  existed  at  Oxford/'  it  is  said,  ^'  till  about  the  1 20k 
or  ISth  century.'' 

Faxjc*  Why  not,  if  a  corporate  body  existed  for  any 
oiker  purposes  ?  The  objection  that  there  are  no  recorded 
titles  or  charters,  is  alike  assignable  to  church  and  king, 
who  have  ever  been  corporations  at  common  law.  It  holds 
even,  against  the  common  law  itself.  It  happens  thatre- 
cofds. commence  about  the  latter  end  of  the  12th  century; 
and^wyersaad  aatiquaiies  seldom  look  further.-^EoGAir. 
Bdward  the  First,  the  English  Justinian,  established  the 
first  feposttory  for  records ;  few  of  which  are  older  than  the 
reign  of  Henry  the  Tlvird,  hit  father.— Faijl.  Oxford,  there- 
fne,  is  on  the  same  footing  with  our  earliest  institutions. 
It  can  carry  its  titles  back  as  far  as  any  records  are  extant. 
It  is  to  be  presumed,  thereftNre,  that  if  the  antient  records 
bad  been  preserved,  it  would,  along  with  any  one  else^ 
have  been  able  to  carry  up  its  titles  still  further.  And  it  is 
acknowledged,  that  there  were  numerous  schools  establbhed 
there,  long  before  the  l&th,  or  even  die  12th  or  10th  cen- 
turies. 

Edgar.  The  same  harrow  reasoning  of  aatiquaries  scud 
lawyers,  (actuated  by  a  party  system,  no  doubt,)  has  given 
them  the  hardihood  to  deny  the  existence  of  parliaments,  ai 
least   of  the  third  estate  in  pariiament,   previous  to  the 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

reign  of  Henry  the  Third,  because,  forsooth,  there  is  no 
writ  extant  of  an  earlier  period. — Fauh.  How  could  there 
be  writs  when,  by  their  own  argument,  no  records  what- 
soever existed  of  that,  or  of  any  thing  else  ?  There  are  no 
records  of  the  Saxon  wittenagemote  or  pariiament  $  y«t,  no 
O&e  doubts  that  we  had  such  assemblies  composed  not  only 
of  the  principal  nobl«  and  churchmen  in  their  own  right, 
but,  I  think,  of  depuiiei  also.  What  eke  are  the  very 
jurymen  of  the  Saxons  but  deputies  ? 

Il  Cortbg.  But  b  not  the  very  word  Unwersiig  a 
term  borrowed  from  the  Roman  law  t  the  most  authentie 
digest  of  which  (called  the  Pandects)  were  accidentally  dis* 
covered  at  Amalfi  about  a  century  before  the  creation  of 
these  institutions,  A.  D.  1  ISO,  and  which  caused  a  revival 
of  the  Roman  law  ? 

Falk.  You  call  it  very  properiy  a  revival,  for  the  Ro« 
mans  themselves  introduced  their  own  law  into  Britatn  long 
before,  immediately  upon,  or  soon  after  their  settlement 
here.  Even  charters  were  only  a  renovated  formality  to  pre- 
serve the  memorial  of  rights  which  previously  existed  at 
common  law.  We  are  speaking  now  of  that  abstract  being 
called  the  University,  not  of  any  particular  CSollege^  the 
commencement  of  whose  titles  and  property  happen  all  (o 
be  within  the  period  you  mention,  and  which  is  very  neariy 
co^extenshre  with  what  lawyers  call  *'  time  of  legri  me- 
mory."   In  this  distinction  lies  the  whole  question. 

Il  Cortbg.  But  does  not  that  corporate  establishment 
an  University,  imply  ex  t^*  termini,  one  having  privilege 
of  holding  property  and  of  conferring  degrees  ? — Fai.k.  As 
if  this  might  not  very  well  have  been  done  at  common  law, 
without  the  aid  of  any  charter  at  all ! 

Ii.  Cortbg.  But  still  yon  have  not  accounted  for  Ox- 
ford, and  its  sister  University  having  this  privilq^e  pre* 
eminently  and  exclusively  of  all  other  plaoes  ? 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRB88  OF  THB  UNIVERSITY. 

Falk.  That,  too,  it  might  have  bad  by  unge  witfaoot  u 
charter,  though  afterwards  ratified  and  eonfirmed  by  one ; 
and  the  only  difficulty  is  to  account  for  sach  usage.— ^Ed- 
gab.  As  difficult  to  discover  as  the  first  origin  of  great 
cities,  or  of  the  source  of  the  Nile. 

Il  Cortbo.  Cambridge  is  allowed  to  possess  more  pre- 
cise information,  than  Oxford  does,  concerning  the  exact  era 
of  its  origin  and  foundation. 

Fai.k.  a  certain  proof  that  Cambridge  is  more  modem. 
Without  laying  stress  upon  the  fact  or  historical  assertion 
that  Merton  was  recommended  by  one  of  our  kings  as  a 
model  for  the  ^st  College  at  Cambridge,  I  should  remind 
you,  that  we  are  not  going  to  enter  into  the  inquiry  which 
College  forsooth,  boasts  of  the  earliest  charter. 

If.  CoBTBG.  Confining  the  discussion  then  to  that  point, 
I  have  often  endeavoured  to  account  for  ike  pre-eminence 
of  Oxford,  by  its  having  been  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
myal  residence. — ^Fai.k«  But  no  cause  would  be  satbfactory, 
that  does  not  account  for  the  rise  of  Cambridge  also ;  and 
our  kings  were  not  constantly  in  thai  neighbourhood,  unless 
you  give  them  the  attribute  of  ubiquity.  Other  places  in  Eng- 
land, where  our  kings  have  occasionally  resided,  have  not 
become  Universities.  In  truth,  the  Universities  do  not  owe 
their  greatness  to  royal  neighbourhood  or  favour,  but  to 
private  bounty.  They  are  made  up  of  private  endowments 
altogether.  Nor  was  it  for  the  sake  of  being  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  University,  that  our  kings  lived  at  Woodstock, 
Beaumont,  &c.  Universities  had  become  by  other  cau$ei 
great,  in  the  first  instance,  and  this  attracted  roysl  notice. 
Still  our  kings  gave  them  nothing  but  parchment,  such  as 
charters,  immunities,  &c. 

Ii.  CoBTBG.  There  b  no  doubt  as  to  Oxford,  its  progress 
to  the  FBok  of  a  University,  was  gradual,  having  more  schools, 
better  masters,  &c.  having  become  better  frequented,  and 


\ 

I 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGEB88  OP  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

^^vCoUeges  thence  derived  through  the  LAtin^  the  appetlatio^ 

^/"aca^emies.— Falk.  But,  perhaps,  these  were  rather  sects : 

the  State-College  or  University  at  Athens,  was  Eleasis : 

i^lplii  was  another ;  to  these  add  Dodona,  and  other  Psgaa 

9hriA«s. 

Ix.  CoBTEG.  Chiron,  who,  in  good  poetry ^  passes  for  the 
iiec«ptor  of  Aohilles,  was,  in  truth,  the  name  of  a  College  in 
rh4iss$aly,    Orpheus  and  Amphion  were  names  not  of  men, 
^9^  of  religious  seminaries.— Edgar.  But,  Pydiagoras,  like 
"osy  modem  itinerant  lecturer,  no  doubt  founded  and  taught 
^  his  own  school.— Falk.  Just  as  any  philosopher  or  rhetor 
'^  later  Athens,  might  found  a  sect,  and  (if  he  pleased, 
^^spedally  if  it  were  well  frequented)  call  his  private  house, 
>^  lodging,  a  College.  Houses,  however,  or  any  property^  are 
not  essential  to  a  College :  it  is  sufficient  that  it  has  by  repu- 
ation  the  authority  to  confer  a  degree ;  that  is,  a  diploma  or 
serti^cate,  carrying  certain  credentials  with  it,  that  the  bearer 
has  leaned  a  certun  mystery,  that  of  the  arts ;  and  is  a  com- 
petent person  to  practise  -them,  and  (originally)  also  to  teach 
othere.   The  priests  in  ancient  states,  and  in  modem  Europe 
Ae  Popes,  aaramed  (he  prerogative  of  conferring  this  autho- 
rity oa  any  ghren  teacheis ;  the  principal  subject  of  their  in- 
struction being  religion.    None  other  could  grant  such  cer- 
tificates, that  is,  degree8.-^EDGAR.  But  a  subordinate  certi- 
ficate again,  from  a  person  thus  accredited,  being  himself  a 
'^'egate,  could  not  in  the  nature  of  things  confer  a  degree  ? 
— Palk.  No,  and  hence  the  maxim,  none  but  the  Pope 
could  sabdelegate.       The  ma&im  was  afterwards  extended 
to  kings ;  who  succeeded  gradually  to  the  Papal  preroga- 


tives. 


^SwAR.  And  it  is  remarkable,  that  about  the  time  of  the 
EBg&6  JusAiiao,  otta-  kings  supported  by  the  *'  Barons 
Wrf/'  w«re  begiaaiMM^  to  step-  into  the  Pope's  shoes,  (or 
^Pm  I  belief^^  ^^   eK€-yareealW).    Even  the  custom,  at 


lit  n^^  PQ06C98  iDine  few  triflu^  privili^e^  BytUsaeaiis 
k  night  Iwve  aeii«ifed  some  eelehrky. 

Fa&k.  Yoa  are  ptooeediDg  too  hat;  we  mnslaetoat 
with  the  fint  step*  How  came  it  to  be  ao  distiogaishQd  ? 
For  when  once  we  put  it  upon  its  kgs^  and  set  it  argwiig, 
it  will  go  a  great  way,  and  fast  enough  as  yoo  wiM  see 
presently. 

The  same  cause  which  made  religicm  a  oovpoxation  ex- 
dusiTe  and  endowed,  made  Jeligions  education  the  same. 
All  aupreme  powei^  whether  religious  or  political^  tends, 
in  a  monardiy^  to  a  monopoly.  Now  education  is  amt  of 
the  very  keys  of  power.  Under  Papal  Christianity^  which 
was  as  extensive^  and  a  hundred  times  as  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  ondes,  as  the  ancient  pagan  worid,  there  weie 
almost  as  many  schools,  orooUeges^  as  monasteries.  These 
were  ever  under  the  discretion  and  control  of  the  Popes. 
'For  whether  in  the  Teligious  liouses  or  cathednds  of  modem 
Europe,  as  at  Hiris  and  elsewhere,  or  whedier  ait  ancient 
Home,  Greece,  or  in  the  more  ancient  £g]^t,  schools  ever 
were  attached  to  religious  houses  and  temples. 

EoGAa  •  The  Jews  also  had  their  Colleges,  as  at  Jerusalem, 
Tiberias,  &c.  where  Colleges  of  this  kind  were  generally  in 
the  hands  of  those  whose  profession  consecrated  them  to  the 
offiees  of  religioB.  The  Magi  in  Persia,  the  Gymnosophists 
in  India,  and  tlM  Druids  in  Gaul  and  Britain,  had  the  care  of 
all  edocalbn.i-^IXiX^BJrBO.  Among  the  Egyptians,  not  only 
the  priesthood^  but  the  secular  professions,  the  mechanical 
arts  and  trades,  were  confined  to  casts ;  and  w^re  handed 
down,  siiceessively,  not  only  from  fiither  to  son,  but  among 
fmembers  of  a  perpetually  standing  iody,  eorparatian,  or 
company.  Even  the  Freemasons,  so  long  the  itinerant  ar- 
chitects of  Europe,  were  a  College,  and  nothing  else. 

EoGaAdi.  Among  the  Greeks^,  the  Lvcbum  and  the 
AoAJOjaiciA,  were  celebrated  Colleges  for^ownmen:  a«id 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OP  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

oar  Colleges  thence  derived  through  the  Latin^  the  appenation 
of  academies. — ^Falk.  But^  perhaps^  these  were  rather  sects : 
the  State-College  or  University  at  Athens,  was  Eleasis : 
Delphi  was  another ;  to  these  add  Dodona,  and  other  Pagaii 
shrines. 

Il  Corteg.  Chiron,  who,  in  good  poetry,  passes  for  the 
preceptor  of  Achilles,  was,  in  truth,  the  name  of  a  College  in 
Thessalj*  Orpheus  and  Ampliion  were  names  not  of  men, 
but  of  religious  semmaries. — JSdgar.  But,  Pyi^agoras,  like 
any  modem  itinerant  lecturer,  no  doubt  founded  and  taught 
in  his  own  school. — Falk.  Just  as  any  philosopher  or  rhetor 
in  later  Athens,  might  found  a  sect,  and  (if  he  pleased, 
especially  if  it  were  well  firequented)  call  his  private  house, 
or  lodging,  a  College.  Houses,  however,  or  any  property^  are 
not  essentia]  to  a  College :  it  is  sufficient  that  it  has  by  repu*^ 
tation  the  authority  to  confer  a  degree ;  that  is,  a  diploma  or 
certi^cate,  carrying  certain  credentials  with  it,  that  the  bearer 
has  learned  a  oortain  mystery,  that  of  the  arts ;  and  is  a  com- 
petent person  to  practise  them,  and  (originally)  also  to  teadi 
others.  The  priests  in  ancient  states,  and  in  modem  Europe 
the  Popes,  assumed  the  prerogative  of  conferring  this  antho- 
rily  on  any  given  teachers ;  the  principal  subject  of  their  in- 
struction being  religion.  None  other  could  grant  such  cer- 
tificates, that  is,  degrees.**«EDGAii.  But  a  subordinate  certi- 
ficate again,  from  a  person  thus  accredited,  being  himself  a 
delegate,  could  not  in  the  nature  of  things  confer  a  degree  ? 
— Falx.  No,  and  hence  the  maxim,  none  but  the  Pope 
could  subdelegate.  The  maxim  was  afterwards  extended 
to  kings ;  who  succeeded  gradually  to  the  Papal  preroga- 
tives. 

Edgar.  And  it  is  remarkable,  that  about  the  time  of  the 
English  Justinian,  our  kings  supported  by  the  ^  Barons 
bold,"  were  beginning  to  step-  into  the  Pope's  shoes,  (or 
slippers,  I  believe,  as  they  are  called).    Even  the  custom,  at 


DIALOGUE   UPON  OXFORD. 

this  day,  of  kissing  the  King's  hand  at  the  levee,  b  a  rdk 
taken  from  the  high  mass. 

Il  Corteg.  But,  in  that  case,  as  kings  succeeded  to 
the  Pope's  privileges,  the  usage  would  have  beeu  to  kiss  the 
King's  toef 

Edgar.  The  Barons  wore  stiff  coats  of  mail,  and  peiiiaps 
could  not  conveniently  stoop  so  low. — Falk*  Bat  at  the 
foundation  of  Colleges  by  charier;  the  feudal  monarch  of 
England  was  getting  the  ascendancy  of  the  Pope,  and  he 
began,  aided  as  he  was,  by  the  Lords  and  commonalty  of 
England,  to  issue  bulls,  commonly  called  charters :  and  here 
begins  the  history  of  our  Collies,  strictly  so  called. 

Il  Cortbg.  When  Charlemagne,  who  lived  in  the  year 
800,  a  century  before  Alfred,  in  one  of  his  c^itulars,  enjoins 
the  monks  to  instruct  youth  in  arithmetic,  grammar,  and 
music  I  in  this  he  only  meant  to  remind  them  that  they  were 
becoming  negligent  in  that  office ;  which,  at  first  properiy 
belonged  to  them,  as  monks.  But  this  being  unavailing, 
the  monks,  or  regulars,  as  they  were  called,  in  process  of 
time,  were  supplanted  by  the  seculars,  and,  I  believe,  first  by 
the  mendicants,  who,  being  poorer  and  less  contemplative, 
were  more  active  and  robust  in  learning,  as  well  as  in  teach- 
ing the  arts.  In  this  we  may  perceive  symptoms  of  the  de- 
cline of  the  ecclesiastical,  and  the  rise  of  the  civil  power. 

Falk.  But  It  was  not  these  charters,  nor  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  court,  that  first  gave  a  being  and  a  consequence 
to  any  particular  seminary, — ^to  Oxford,  for  example, — as  a 
University.  The  neighbourhood  of  the  court  would  rather 
have  checked  the  growth  of  the  University ;  just  as  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  University  has  checked  the  growth  of 
the  city.  The  University,  like  a  tree  of  the  forest,  has  over- 
lain, so  to  say,  the  corporation  of  the  city,  and  has  stinted 
its  growth.— Ii.  Cortbg.  Another  plant  also  was  smothered 
in  its  growth  here.    It  appears  that  about  the  year  1 064^  the 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

Jews  were  veiy  mimerous  at  O^tford;  and  becoming  wealthy, 
had  purchased  so  many  tenements  at  St.  Martin's,  St.  Ed-i 
ward's,  and  St.  Aldate's,  as  to  give  to  that  part  of  the  town 
the  name  of  the  Old  and  New  Jewry :  just  as  was  the  cis^ 
from  a  similar  circumstance  in  London.  At  Oxford  they 
built  a  school,  or  synagogue ;  in  which  certain  learned  mas- 
ters of  that  nation  taught  Hebrew,  and  explained  the  Aabbi- 
nical  dogmas  to  the  edification  of  the  students  in  the  Univer-i 
sHy.  But  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  (or  rather  of  his  suc- 
cessor] they  were  banished  the  kingdom. 

Edoa«.  Probably  the  celebrity  of  Oxford  might  at  first 
have  been  accidental,  from  one  or  more  illustrious  teachers, 
whose  difigence  and  fame  created  a  school ;  and  whose  lec- 
tures were  reputed  to  have  a  great  virtue  in  them :  just  as 
some  places  are  famed  for  their  medicinal  waters,  a  chaly- 
beate spring,  and  so  forth ;  an  advantage  purely  accidental* 
The  same  fortuitous  advantage  might  have  accrued  to  Cam- 
bridge. 

Il  Cortsg.  But,  in  that  case,  I  cannot  but  think  there 
n^ght  have  been  more  than  two  places  in  England,  celebrated 
for  such  springs  ?  They  have  four  such  springs  in  Scotland ; 
(though  these  indeed  were  not  dbcovered  till  so  late  as  the 
15th  century,)  and  100  years  ago,  at  Paris  alone,  they  had 
no  less  than  54.  It  must  be  acknowledged,  indeed,  all  but 
lO  or  12  were  dry.  And  one  should  think  that  knowledge 
IS  analogous  to  water ;  wherever  you  can  sink  a  pump,  you 
may  get  a  supply  if  you  have  a  bucket  to  contain  it  only. 
Not  to  mention  the  ntttund  springs  and  streams  that  Provi- 
dence has  distributed  over  the  whole  country. 

Falk.  There  was  a  University  at  Stamford  in  1291^ 
founded  by  the  first  Edward.  It  was  suppressed  by  Edward 
III.  in  favour  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge. 

Oliver  Cromwell,  in  his  protectorate,  founded  ano- 
ther at  Durham.    The  Universities  petitioned  against  this 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

foundation.    Oliver  replied,  <^  nothing  shovld  be  done  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  Universities,"— addbg  no  more,— wMch 
answer  amounted,  you  know,  in  efiect  to  ^  If  roi  s'aMnseraJ 
However,  at  the  restoration,  the  Duxham  University  was 
suppressed. 

Ladt  G.  You  are  now  anticipating  the  second  or  third 
step  of  your  inquiry :  you  have  not  made  good  the  first  step 
yet? 

Il  Cortbo.  The  advantage  of  site,  though  noticeable  at 
both  Universities,  will  not  account  for  their  onpn ;  sodi 
advantage  being  by  no  means  peculiar  to  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge. One  might  say  that  the  fens  formed  a  natural  tiar- 
rier  in  an  age  and  country  wherein  barbarous  incuraons  were 
frequent  And  in  point  of  fact,  the  monks  of  early  ages  did 
for  retirement  and  seclusion's  sake,  as  well  as  for  safety,  build 
in  the  midst  of  those  fens.  So  Osney  was  isolated  by  a  river, 
in  the  centre  of  a  marshy  plain.  Many  ingenious  reasons  of 
preference  might  be  assigned :  such  as  the  site  being  nearly 
in  the  centre  of  the  kingdom,  (which  has  two  centres  at 
least,  though,  I  think,  several  centres,)  at  a  due  distance  from 
the  sea-coast,  the  scene  of  invasion ;  also  from  the  western 
and  northern  border-marches;  apart  from  the  ambition,  din, 
and  commerce  of  London,  &c« — ^Falk.  But  all  this  will  not 
do ;  the  same  might  be  said  of  fifty*other  situations. 

Il  Cortbg.  Some  persons  attempt  to  account  £<»-  the 
first  rise  of  these  Universities,  by  saying  that  eminent  lec- 
turers from  foreign  countries  were  sent  there. — Fausl*  But 
why  were  they  sent  there  in  particular  ?  And  what  place  did 
these  lecturers  come  from  P  For  what  reason  ?  lliese  two 
places  must  have  been  eminent  for  something  or  other 
already.  For  we  find  that  artists  (in  our  days,  at  least,  and 
human  nature  is  the  same  in  all  ages),  flock  always  to  that 
place  where  there  is  the  best  market  ?  where  they  are  sure 
of  good  employment  and  the  best  pay. 


ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

EIdgar.  It  IS  admitted  among  many  other  earlier  instances 
of  the  existence  of  Oxford,  as  a  Uniyersitjr,  that  Henry  L 
was  educated  there  about  150  years  before  any  College  had  ob- 
tained a  charter,  or  such  a  thing  as  a  charter  was  thought  of* 

Many  Halls  and  Schools  were  established  in  the  reign  of 
Richard  Cceur  de  lion ;  100  years  before  the  first  College 
(as  a  chartered  corporation)  existed  at  Oxford. 

But  we  can  go  still  higher  up :  It  is  related  by  Camden 
and  other  distinguished  writers,  that  Alfred,  besides  re-esta- 
blishing the  schools  at  Oxford,  and  giving  rise  to  three 
others,  obt^ned  for  them  certain  immunities  from  Pope 
Martin  the  Second* 

Falk.  It  is  probable  he  acted  in  this  under  some  relp- 
gious  adviser.  All  power  and  authority  in  the  matter  were 
centered  in  the  Popes.  Charters,  like  the  feudal  incidents  were 
ao  expedient  of  the  Norman  and  Roman  Jurists,  whereby 
the  crown  in  its  sovereign  and  fiscal  character,  (in  imitation 
of  the  Popes)  made  titles,  even  of  a  manU  own  property ^ 
flow  to  him,  as  of  the  gift  of  the  crown.  As  to  the  charters, 
(the  statutes  of  mortmain  gave  rise  to,  in  the  nature  of  dispen- 
Simons  from  the  law  which  forbad  or  restricted  property  in 
corporate  hands) ;  these,  as  well  as  the  evil  they  were  meant 
to  remedy,  were  long  subsequent  to  the  times  we  are  speak- 
ing of* 

A  tract  exists  in  the  Bodleian  of  one  Stamptus,  there  call- 
iiig  himself  Magister  OxenfordisB:  it  is  dated  1119;  Ge- 
laldtts  Cambrensis  read  at  Oxford  to  the  Doctors  in  the  se- 
veral faculties,  to  the  scholars  and  students,  his  topographical 
account  of  Ireland,  between  the  years  1187  and  1209. 
Merton  was  founded  sixty- five  years  later  than  the  last  date, 
and  nearly  90  after  the  former  instance.  If  you  can  shew 
that  Oxford  was  a  University  one  day  before  the  foundation 
of  Merton,  the  whole  argument  referring  the  question  to 

|2 


DIALOG1TE  UPON  OXFORD. 

recoided  fooAdtttion,  «ls  to  Ae  ground,  and  l^s  open  the 
inqmry  to  the  remotest  tunes. 

Edoar.  This  is  an  answer  to  those  who  say  that  degreer 
were  not  conferred  m  the  Universities,  tiB  after  they  were 
incorporated  by  charier. 

Fam.  Indeed,  whoever  it  was  said  so,  answers  himsdf, 
if  it  may  be  called  an  answer,  the  &tt«t  self-conttafictkm. 
For  he  says,  (Anthony  k  Wood,  I  heKevc),  that  the  degree 
of  Doctor  was  not  known  before  the  above  age  of  Gcnld, 
(Henry  IL)  admitting  that  it  was  then  known  as  above  :  and 
yet  that  Acre  was  no  corporation  by  charter  till  the  dale  of 
Merton,  87  years  after !— Lectures  to  crowded  auditories 
were  common  at  this  time.    These  ever  implied  a  degree. 

According  to  Anthony  k  Wood,  in  11S6,  Robert  White 
returned  to  EngUmd  at  the  invitation  of  Osceline,  Bishop  of 
Rochester ;  and  for  the  space  of  five  years  he  read  oat  in  pub- 
Uc  the  Scriptures,  which  had  lata,  in  a  manner,  desd  throi^ 

out  England. 

Edgar.  Ingulph  went  to  Oxford  to  study  Aristotle,  and 
Tully's  Rhetoric,  about  the  middle  of  the  11th  century, 
during  the  reign  of  Edward  l!he  Confessor ;  150  years  befaie 
the  reign  of  Henry  III. 

Falk.  Alban  Hall  is  not  a  chartered  College  to  this  day. 
It  has  few  or  no  endowments  or  exhibitions ;  yet  students 
pifoceed  to  degrees  as  regularly  as  in  any  College.  It  is  also 
oMer  than  ai^y  College  now  existing.  The  Halls  were  a 
University  like  th6se  subsequent  Papal  foun^tions  without 
endowments,  called  Freemason  societies ;  wliich  had  a  charter 
from  the  Pope.  Under  the  feudal  system,  the  No)rmaQ 
Kings  considered  the  Oxford  societies  for  education  as  a 
species  of  powef ;  and  when  they  become  fixed,  treated  them 
like  any  other  permanent  estate  or  property.  By  the  advice 
of  their  Norman  Jurists,  tliey  sealed  to  them  a  charter :  in 


ORIGIN  AND  PR06RB8S  OF  THB  UNIVERSITY. 

which  they  ^ve  them  at  once  (what  they  all  ultimately  tend 
to)  exclusiTe  privilege,  on  consideration  of  their  acknowledge 
iog^as  they  do  virtually),  that  they  hold  of  the  sovereign^ 
and  regard  dieir  monofioly  of  education  as  a  tenure,  at  his 
hand. 

Ii,  CoRTBG.  But  how  came  there  to  be  tuw  Universities^ 
and  no  more,  in  England, ,/btfr  in.  Scotland^  and  so  very  many 
in  France,  and  the  pqpal  countries  ? — Fai«k.  In  the  Papal 
countries,  where  the  influence  of  the  Popes  was  most  power- 
ful, and  almost  universal,  it  might  have  been  their  policy,  to 
divide  (for  the  sake  of  entire,)  so  many  engines  of  power 
as  the  monastic  and  episcopal  seminaries  might  be  consi«- 
dered  to  be ;  and  this  was  best  done  by  their  number,  re- 
ducing them  thus  to  a  species  of  populace.  In  oligaisdiioal 
countries,  fewer  Colleges,  of  course,  existed,  from  the  re- 
lation sufoh  institutions  ever  bear  to  the  nature  of  the  go- 
vernment under  which  they  exist.  In  Switzerland,  Holland, 
and  Germany,  countries  of  cantons,  districts,  and  provinces, 
eadi  was  in  the  nature  of  a  separate  state,  and  had  its  dis- 
tinct, separate,  Universiries.  For  a  long  tune>  France  was 
rather  a  colleedon  of  provinces,  than  one  kingdom ;  it  was 
the  same  with  Spain.  Whereas  England  was  sooner  knit  into 
one  monarchy ;  whieh  having  immjbm oriali^y  had  two  par- 
ties, a  court  and  a  country  one, — whence  arose  the  usage  of 
ks  having  imo  Universities. 

It  is  xemarkabk  that  those  reigns  which  form  epochs  im 
the  history  of  the  common  law,  oorirespond  to  those  in  the 
history  of  the  University.  Though  as  the  Univetsity,  from 
its  connection  with  the  ehurph,  leaned  to  the  civ)l  law,  it 
throve  rather  by  the  separation,  negbct,  and  werrigbi  of  the 
Barons,  and  natmn  at  large^  who  followed  the  common-lsjw ; 
and  who,  by  way  of  oompensation  perhaps,  (besides  b^ing 
engaged  in  their  various  secular  pursuits  and  civil  wars). 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

let  the  ecclesiastics  do  as  they  pleased  with  their  Vmrmdes, 
which  were,  in  a  manner,  their  peculiar.  Their  reciprocal 
advancement,  therefore,  was  a  coonteracticm  of  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Gommon-hiw,  rather  than  the  effect  of  it. 

Il  Corteo.  The  Universiiies  borrowed,  as  wc  have  done 
in  aU  ages,  much  from  the  Continent ;  from  Italy,  above  aU  ; 
though  from  Paris,  as  nearer,  more  ostensibly.  Learning  took 
its  fashions,  as  we  have  since  taken  our  dress,  from  Paris.— 
Edgar.  The  celebrated  Abelard  flourished  as  a  teacher  in 
ftuis,  at  the  commencement  of  the  12th  century. 

In  1229,  under  the  reign  of  Henry  III.  a  serious  dilute 
having  arisen  between  the  students  and  citizens  of  Paris,  the 
King  invited  over  the  Parisian  masteis  and  scholars  ;  who, 
to  the  number  of  1000  resorted  to  Oxford.  The  Parisian 
method,  even  after  our  Colleges  had  foundations,  was  much 
in  vogue.  Anthony  a  Wood  says,  that  in  1246,  half  a  cen- 
tury, according  to  him,  after  the  first  foundations,  and  28 
years  before  that  of  Merton,  it  was  decreed  that  the  exami- 
nations to  be  undergone,  should  be  in  morem  Pkrisianensem, 
before  any  one  could  have,  regularly,  his  degree. 

At  the  Reformation,  all  the  Papal  Institutions  received  a 
severe  shock  :  the  church,  the  Freemason  architects,  and  the 
Universities.  The  rest  of  thfa  subject,  therefore,  resolves  itself 
into  their  present  discipline  and  course  of  teaching. 

Ladt  6.  So  much  for  the  origin  and  nature  of  the 
Universities.  We  shall  devote  an  entire  day  to  discuasiog 
those  Other  topics  you  mention^ — Falk*  As  to  the  history  of 
the  several  marks  of  royal  favour,  and  of  royal  visits  they  have 
received ;  these  are  rather  effects  than  causes  of  their  nature 
and  constitution.  We  shall  take  these  chronologically ;  they 
will  throw,  at  the  same  time,  some  light  on  the  history  of  the 
city.  The  particulars  are  given  in  the  short  annals  drawn  up 
by  the  intelligent  writer  in  Rees's  Cyclopedia:    already 


ORIGIN  AKD  PROGRBSS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

quoted  in  describing  the  city  and  its  sarronnding  land- 
scape. 

^  Edmund,  surnamed  ^  Ironside,'  occasionally  resided  at 
Oxford ;  and  was  murdered  there  in  1016. 

^  Canute  the  Great  held  hb  court  frequently  at  Oxford. 
In  1022  he  assembled  here  a  general  council,  in  which  the 
laws  of  Edward  were  discussed. 

^^  Harold,  suraamed  '  harefoot,"  likewise  fixed  his  chief 
residence  at  this  place,  which  was  the  scene  both  of  his  co- 
ronation and  of  his  death. 

'*  William  the  Conqueror  conferred  the  government  of 
Oxford  on  Robert  de  Oigli,  and  empowered  him  to  build  and 
fortify  a  castle.  This  structure  was  of  great  size  and  strength^ 
and  was  rused  on  the  west  side  of  the  town,  near  the  river. 

*^  The  immediate  successors  of  William  I.  frequently 
made  Oxford  the  place  of  their  residence,  and  on  several  oc- 
casions summoned  parliaments  and  councils  there :  as  in 
particular.  King  Rufiis ;  Stephen  several  times ;  the  Empress 
Maude  took  \ip  her  abode  in  the  Castle,  and  was  besieged 
there.  In  1154,  the  council  met  at  Oxford,  where  it  was 
formally  agreed  that  Stephen  should  retain  the  crown  for  life.'' 

JRlm.  The  circumstances  of  the  Empress's  escape  are 
told  :  it  was  about  Christmas,  and  the  snow  lay  thick  upon 
the  ground.  The  Empress  put  on  a  white  dress,  and  attended 
by  three  soldiers,  stole  out  of  the  fortress  in  the  dead  of 
night;  passed  unobserved  through  the  enemy's  out-posts, 
and  braving  the  rigour  of  the  severest  frost  ever  known,  pro- 
ceeded on  foot  to  Wallingfbrd,  a  distance  of  ten  miles. 

In  1109,  students  to  a  considerable  number  lodged  in 
private  houses,  as  they  do  now  at  oar  public  schools :  one 
of  which,  Westminster,  is  as  old  as  the  time  of  Ing^ph 
(1050.)  An  officer  with  the  title  of  chancellor  presided 
over  the  whole  body. 

^'  Henry  the  Second,  convened  several  councils  at  Oxford. 


IHALOOU£  VPOM   OXFORD. 

In  1 177  tbe  princes  and  chief  loids  of  Wales  did  homage 
to  bim  here.  He  resided  in  the  palace  of  Beaumont,  built 
by  Henry  the  First.  His  son,  Ridiard  Coear  de  Lian^  wu 
bom  within  that  pakce,  and  subsequently  held  Qne.eoimcil 
hercj  previous  to  his  departure  for  the  Holy  Land.  King 
John  passed  much  of  his  time  here,  (and  not  much  to  Us 
credit })  for  the  University  gained  a  signal  victory  over  Idm^ 
at  least.  And  it  was  at^  or  near  Oxford^  he  had  a  meeting 
with  his  Indignant  barons  about  two  months  before  be  signed 
Magna  Charta. 

^*  Henry  the  Thinl,  after  the  example  of  Us  piede- 
cesson,  occasiooally  £xed  his  abode  at  Oxford^  and  held 
many  parliaments  and  councils  here. 

^*  Edward  I.  occupied  in  war,  and  in  schemes  of  politi- 
cal aggrandisement,  had  little  leisure  to  attend  to  the  advance- 
ment of  learning.  Some  privileges,  however,  were  coa- 
fenqd  on  the  University  in  his  time :  among  thescj  a  grant 
firom  the  Pope^  thi^  (Mord  graduates  might  be  deemed 
such  in  any  University  whatsoever.  Towards  the  conclusion 
of  his  reign,  upon  occasion  of  a  dispute  jnelating  to  the 
bishop's  jurisdiction  in  University  matters,  the  University 
was  totally  emancipated  from  ecclesiastical  authority,  under 
the  sanction  of  a  papal  bull  granted  by  Pope  Bonifiaoe,  in 
the  year  1301. 

'^Edward  U.  granted  many  additional  privileges  and 
confirmed  former  grants.  In  his  reign  the  preaching  friais 
claimed  right  to  confer  degrees  independent  of  4he  Univer- 
sity; both  sides  a{^aled  to  the  Pope,  who  gnuitcd  the 
former  an  exemption  from  the  chancellor's  authority.  Bat 
the  King  cancelled  this  grant,  and  made  friais  amendl>le  to 
the  chancellor's  jurisdiction,  under  heavy  penalties. 

«  In  this  monarch's  reign,  lectures  in  Hebrew  were  read 
by  John  de  Bristol,  a  converted  Jew;  he  was  heard  with 
the  greatest  applause. 


ORIGIN  A.N0  PROGRESS  OF  THR  UNIVERSITY. 

'<  Edwi^d  III.  havipg  hten  educated  heie^  i^tained^  dur- 
iqg  his  whole  life,  a  hi^b  veQecatioa  for  the  Univeisityi  imd 
was  moie  liberal  in  his  grants  to  it  than  any  of  his|md^- 


**  The  celebrated  disputants  <rf  this  age  of  sects  and  dis- 
putes were  Dons  Scotus,  and  Oakham^  or  Accom :  the  former 
was  founder  of  the  naminals,  the  latter  of  the  reak.  The 
subject  of  their  difference  was  the  relative  aujtoiity  of  the 
cMil  and  ecclesiastical  power.  The  latter  was  styled  the  in- 
Tindble  doctor^  (for  he  eomdnced  the  Pop^  himself  m 
favour  of  the  civil  power ;)  the  former  was  stiled  the  subtile 
doctor.  Such  great  men  appearing  in  aay  CoUege  or  Uni- 
vefsity^  would  alone  make  an  epoch  in  its  history. 

'*  The  reign  of  Richard  II.  was  distioguished  by  the  ap- 
peanoce  at  Oxford,  of  Wicliffe :  he  was,  I  believe,  under 
the  speeial  protection  and  patronage  Qf  the  great  Duke  of 
Lancaster. 

^'  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  IV.  V.  VI.  Iiatin  learqiog  aod 
the  U^versity  fell  .to  the  very  lowest  ebb*  Several  of  the 
Halls  were  let  for  far  different  purposes  from  those  of  educa- 
tiw*  In  the  church,  benefices  were  disposed  of  for  in- 
tecQSted  considerations  to  persons  not  in  holy  orders* 

*'  Edward  IV.  assumed  the  title  of  .protector  of  the 
Uoivensity,  and,  io  many  respects,  shewed  himself  worthy 
of  that  title. 

^*  So  did  Richard  III.  He  passed  a  law  empoweiing 
the  Univeraity  to  import  or  esqwrt  books  At  pleasure. 

*'  Henry  VIL  In  his  reign,  fortoitons  circnmstanoes  fos- 
tered and  revived  learning.  Fifty-five  halls  are  mentioned 
at  this  time,  and  several  able  professors  of  the  Greek  leaiui- 
ing  9  as  Grocyn,  Linacre,  Latimer,  Tunstall,  Lilly^  Cfiifi%, 
and  Erasmus.  The  Greek  and  Trojan  sects  arose  there- 
upon. 

"  Henry  VIII.  One  of  the  brightest  periods  in  the  annals 


DIALQQUE  UPON  OXFOAD. 

onleriog  the  exAmination  of  all  candidates  for  degrees  were 
•first  ppt  in  execution. 

**  Under  the  times  of  fanaticism  the  dean  and  ohiq^to- 
lands  were  sold,  episcopalian  divines  ejected^  the  librades 
pillaged^  the  colleges  (and  (heir,  chapels)  dismanded  of  their 
ornaments  and  decoraliioQs.  Classioal  learning  now  ejipe*- 
xienced  a  total  stagnation.  Still  a  few  men  of  talent  kept 
alive  .the  dying  embers  of  science  and  pofite.  erudition.  At 
stated  times  they  met,  unnoticed)  to  communicate  to  each 
other  their  respective  discoveries  in  physical  science  and 
geometry,  and  thus  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Royal  Society. 

''  Cromwellj  who  was  elected  chancellor  of  Qxfordi  in 
1653,  gave  several  proofs  of  his  predilection  for  learnings 
but  the  temper  of  the  times  checked  his  efforts  for  its  re^ 
vival,  and  encouragement.  On  the  restoration,  the  Univer- 
sity was  replaced  on  its  former  basis^  and  learning  began 
again  to  flourish. 

^^  In  the  reign  of  James  the  Second,  Magdalen  College 
signalised  itself  in  its  resistance  to  popery  and  arbitrary 
power.''  The  particulars  are  to  be  found  in  o^r  national 
history,  of  which  they  form  no  vulgar  or  inglorious  part. 

Ii.  CkuiTBG.  In  this  last  iqiitanc^,  Oxford  gained  as  sig- 
nal a  victory  over  James,  as  it  had  formerly  done  over  his 
•ptedeccjssor  John.  For  we  may  remark,  generally^  on  this 
sketch  of  tl^e  qopnection  there  has  been  between  the  Uni- 
versity and  our  kiogS)  pr  protectors,  from  John  to  James^ 
from  Humphrey,  djike  of  Gloucester,  to  Cromwell  the 
protector,  that  the  hoppjvable  notices  of  it  taken  by  the 
latter,  were  rathcir  the  signs  and  effects  of  its  importance 
.than  the  causes  of  it.  They  no  doubt  contributed  thereto, 
and  confirmed  it. 

As  Terrs  Filius  remarks,  the  crown,  somehow  or  other, 
never  sat  right  on  the  heads  of  any  king  that  was  not  on 
good  termft  w|th  Oxford. 


El]iMl'^li>   lU^L-l-. 


> 


ifa:rt  of  ST  :> 


.     I 


' 


HALLS. 


AbBAW   ttAIiIi. 

Edgar.  This  Hall  is  conftiguoiis  to  Merton  Cdlege  on 
the  east,  and  appears  to  have  been  a  house  of  leanung,  in 
the  ragn  (rf  Edward  I. — Falk.  But  this  must  have  been 
under  some  other  name,  by  what  follows :  *^  It  received  its 
name  ftom  Robert  de  St.  Albao,  a  citizen  of  Oxford,  who, 
in  the  reign  of  Edward  III.  conveyed  it  to  the  Abbey  of  Lit- 
tlemore/'  The  present  front  was  erected  in  the  yeaf  1595< 
It  has  a  sitaall  refectory,  but  no  Chapel.  Besides  Massinger, 
the  dramatic  poet,  among  the  illustrious  men  of  this  College, 
were  Lenthal,  speaker  of  the  Commons,  in  the  long  parlia- 
ment ;  Marsh,  the  Primate  ;  and  Hooper,  of  Gloucester,,  the 
Martyr. 

&DKUIID  HAIiIi. 

This  Hall,  which  is  situated  to  the  east  of  Queen's  Col- 
lege, to  which  it  once  belonged,  and  which  improved  its 
buildings,  was  first  established  about  the  reign  of  Edward 
III.  and  was  cons^ed  to  that  College  in  the  year  1557«^  But 
it  had  been  a  seminary  in  1S17-  it  has  a  refectory.  Chapel, 
and  Library,  which  are  neat  and  commodious.  Queen's 
College  restored  it  as  a  place  of  study,  on  condition  of  ap- 
pointing its  principal.  Besides  Sir  Richard  Blaqkmore,  poet ; 
Kennet,  Kshop  of  Peterborough,  was  of  this  Hall,  and  that 
most  eminent  Antiquary,  Hbarnb. 


Falk.   St.  Mary  Hall  situated  in   Oriel  Lane,  to  the 
south  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  was  erected  by  Edward  the 


DIALOGUE  UPOH   OXFORD. 

Second^  and  was  converted  into  a  Hall  in  ISSS^  or  1335.  It 
consists  of  an  elegant  little  courts  which  is  formed  by  the 
priucipars  lodgings  ou  the  norths  a  Hall  and  Chapel  on  the 
south,  and  of  chambers  for  students  on  the  east  and  west. 
Erasmus,  Sir  Thomas  Morb,  and  Sandys,  the  poet^  [fonan 
the  traveller  ?]  studied  in  thb  house.  ^^  Cardinal  Allen  abo^ 
and  Dr.  William  King,  the  celebrated  Tory  writer  and  wit. 

Ih  CoRTBG.  Bat  Erasmus  studied,  1  thought,  in  a  place 
called  St.  Mary's,  opposite  New  Inn  Hall  ?  and  Sir  Thomas 
More,  at  a  Hall,  whose  site  is  now  occupied  by  Canterbury 
Court  ? — ^Fajlk.  There  were  many  St.  Mary's  contending  for 
him.  And  no  wonder,  his  country  never  produced  his  equaL 
The  buildings  received  considerable  improvement  in  the  last 
centuiy ;  the  east  side  having  been  recently  rebuilt  fincmi  the 
contributions  of  several  noblemen  and  gentlemen  educated 
here.  The  south  side  has  likewise  been  lately  raised  and 
finished,  from  the  benefactions  of  Dr.  Nowell,  the  late  prin- 
cipal, aind  of  other  members  of  the  society.  The  number 
of  students  is  about  60.    It  has  one  exhibition. 


HElBir  ZWW  HAI.Z.. 

Faijc.  This  Hall  stands  at  the  west  end  of  the  city,  near 
the  Church  of  St.  Peter,  in  the  Bailey ;  and  was  consigned 
to  the  use  of  students  in  the  year  1545,  by  Trillock,  Bishop 
of  Hereford.  It  has  no  Chapel.  Almost  opposite  to  this 
Hall  stands  part  of  the  gateway  of  St.  Mary's  College,  in 
which  Erasmus  certainly  resided  for  some  time.  For  he  has 
left  an  elegant  Latin  poem,  on  the  manner  of  his  living  here. 
It  was  founded  in  the  year  1437^  for  novices  of  the  Augustine 
order,  but  suppressed  at  the  reformation.  Besides  Sur  Wil- 
liam Blackstone,  among  the  illustrious  students  here,  were 
Scott,  Author  of  the  Christian  Life ;  and  Brtan  Twtnb,  the 
great  antiquary. 


*•* 


« 


■    I 


»  ■» 

i 


I         .       *   •      >1    I  < 


> 


•  I 


.  « ;  • 


.  \ 


MAGBAI-En  MAIL. 


li  i 


'.'  ..  *- 


C  "I 


i  .'  '  . 


I. 


•       1       » 


1      ■  .' 


I  « 


.     ..  '• 


HALLS. 

Il  Cortbg.  This  Hall  was  <Hice  very  celebrated  for  the 
proficiency  of  its  students  in  the  civil  and  canon  law.  Its 
name  was  taken  from  its  god-father^  New  College ;  which 
was  also  either  its  natural  or  reputed  father.  Its  fortune  has 
been  various  and  fluctuatiog;  the  commoo-law  haviog 
frowned  upon  it  as  a  supposititious  child,  till  Blackstone 
became  a  sort  of  guardian  to  it  for  a  time«  Its  building  was 
used  by  Charles  the  First,  as  a  mint,  who  could  coin  as  much 
money  and  laws  here,  as  he  could  get  metal  and  subjects  for 
his  materials  to  work  upon.  Yet  in  the  intervals  of  its 
adversities,  this  Hall  can  shew  a  copious  list  of  principals 
and  students ;  though,  at  present,  without  any  of  the  latter, 

XAQDAIiSV  BAIiIi. 

Falk.  This  Hall  adjoins  the  western  side  of  Magdalen 
College,  to  which  it  is  appendant ;  the  most  considerable 
part  of  it  being  a  grammar  school  for  the  choristers  of  that 
College,  and  erected  with  it  by  the  founder,  William  of 
Wainfleet,  for  that  purpose  alone.  To  this  structure,  other 
buildings  having  been  added,  it  grew  by  degrees  into  an  aca«- 
demical  Hall :  it  had  a  well-furnished  Library,  with  a  neat 
chisel  and  refectory.  Before  it  is  a  majestic  skreen  of  elms. 
It  has  a  portrait  of  Tyndal,  translator  of  the  Bible,  and  martyr. 
This  seminary  boasts  the  education  of  Lord  Clarendon,  the 
celebrated  historian.  The  number  of  its  students  is  generally 
about  70. — Il  Corteg.  It  has  several  exhibitions. 

Falk.  Yes,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  generally  well 
frequented.  lu  1612,  the  society  consisted,  of  161  persons. 
But  under  principal  Wilkinson  300,  according  to  Anthony 
a  Wood :  who  adds,  '^  They  were  mostly  non-conformists.^' 
But  as  Chalmers  shrewdly  remarks,  this  is  less  doubtful, 
than  how  such  a  number  could  be  accommodated,  consi- 
dering the  known  extent  of  the  building. 


DIALOGUE  CPDK  OXFORD. 

TjnM,  the  maityr,  under  Henry  VIII.  mis  of  this 
HaII  ;  also  Sir  Heory  Vaae,  the  parlknaentBiutt ;  Dr. 
Sydenham ;  one  of  the  Pococke's  (not  the  trwAeUep;)  Dr. 
Hkke's^  the  non-juring  antiquary ;  PhiU^-  NBitoa'a  ne- 
phew; Dr.  Plot,  the  naturalist;  and  Sir  Matthew  Haix. 

In  1820,  Jan.  9^  the  society  may  be  said  to  have  been 
burnt  out  by  a  great  fire  which  destroyed  its  northern 
range  of  buildings;  and  as  the  College  of  Hertford,  fer- 
merly  Hert  Hall,  had  becoone  extinct,  and  the  site  of  its 
buildings  had  been  granted  to  this  society,  every  thing  his 
been  put  in  train  for  its  removal  there,  as  soon  as  the 
new  buildings,  now  carrying  on  with  great  spmt,  are 
completed. 

BSBTFOBD  OOIiIiBaB. 

(EXTINCT  NOnr)^  AND  ANCIENTLY  HERT  HALL, 

This  College  was  situated  opposite  to  the  gate  of  tlie 
Scho<^,  and  consisted  of  one  court.  The  entire  plan,  how* 
ever,'  was  for  firom  being  complete  :  as  it  had  been  originally 
intended  to  erect  it  in  the  form  of  a  quadrangle,  each  angle 
to  consist  of  three  staircases,  imd  fifteen  single  apartments; 
every  apartment  to  contain  an  outward  room,  a  bed-phcej 
and  a  study.  Of  these,  the  south  angle  and  the  chapel  on 
the  south,  the  principal's  lodgings  on  the  east,  the  Hall  on 
the  north,  and  the  gateway,  with  the  Library  over  it,  on  the 
west,  are  the  only  parts  which  had  been  completed. 

While  it  had  the  rank  of  a  Hall  only,  it  had  its 
eminent  men.  Besides  Ken,  one  of  the  seven  Bishops,  and 
Sir  William  Waller,  the  parliaoientary  general ;  it  had  Dr. 
Donne  and  Sackville,  Earl  of  Dorset,  poets ;  Sir  Richard 
Baker,  chnmicler ;  Hutcheson^  the  editor  of  Xenophon ; 
Edward  Lye, the  Saxon  lexicographer;'  andlastly,  Ssldhn. 

This  house  was  once  the  cradle  of  the  infant  establish- 


'  I 


•    I'. 


B-i:aiTrQKJj    r o'!/.ut.i-,i 


liii 


hPl; 


HALLS. 

men!  of  Stapledon^  the  founder  of  Exeter  College^  whieh 
continued  to  nominate  its  principals,  till  1740.  It  was  for«> 
merly  called  Hartford,  or  Hert  Hall ;  it  was  founded  by 
Walter  Stapledon,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  in  the  year  1312,  and 
belonged  to  his  College  of  that  name.  Having,  however, 
received  a  charter  of  incorporation,  through  Dr.  Richard 
Newton,  a  late  learned  and  public-spirited  principal,  who 
also  assigned  a  small  estate  towards  its  endowment,  this 
ancient  hostel  was  converted  into  a  College  on  the  8th  of 
September,  1740. 

As  an  inducement  to  complete  this  College,  it  was 
allowed  to  be  called  by  the  name  of  any  other  person,  who 
would  complete  the  endowment  of  it,  or  become  its  principal 
benefiu:tor.  He  gave  to  it  his  substance,  which  was  little, 
but  it  was  all  he  had ;  yet  could  he  not  move  the  heart  of  one 
powerful  benefactor,  to  keep  alive  this  child  of  his  adoption  I 

TBB  SOBOOIiS. 

Edgar.  What,  are  there  Schools  here  ? — Falk.  Yes, 
but  not  for  children,  they  are  for  adults,  or  those  nearly  so ; 
for  scholars  in  manly  science  and  the  arts.  They  are  also 
public :  by  the  University  Statutes,  the  several  exercises 
imposed  on  graduates,  must  be  exhibited  in  these  public 
schools. 

Il  Cortbo.  We  use  the  word  in  the  same  extended 
sense,  as  when  we  talk  of  the '  <^  school  of  the  world,''  and 
call  Plato^  and  Xenophon,  the  scholars  of  Socrates.  Aris- 
totle himself,  though  of  man's  estate,  was  the  scholar  of 
Plato. 

It  must  be  confessed  this  is  a  magnificent  quadrangle  in 
the  pointed  style,  though  the  windows  are  spoilt.  I  admire 
greatly  its  principal  front  and  gateway,  opposite  Hertford 
College,  and  especially  that  side  of  its  tower. — ^Falk.  This 


DIALOGUE  U^ON  OXFORD. 


ftont  i&  1 75  feet  in  lengdu  Bot  this  inaer  ude  of  the  tower 
M  baibarised  by  the  five  ordeis,  disposed  in  as- many  stories, 
to  serve  as  a  Jund  of  apodieosis  of  King  James.— ^Ii.  Coktbo. 
His  taste  wss  bad  enough^  bnt  this  statoe,  if  pos^ble,  wone. 
r— Fauu  The  inner  towers  of  Merton  and  Wadham,  being 
in  the  same  wretched  and  bombastic  style^  betray  to  us  a 
secret^  which  no  one  cares  to  inquire  about;  viz.  that 
the  same  man  may  have  been  the  architect  of  all  thxee. — Lady 
G.  I  observe  a  book  displayed  open*-*lL  Cortbo.  And 
somewhat  fulsomely,  I  think.— Edgar.  Among  these  (8car»> 
mouch)  figures  sunrounding  our  English  Solomon^  Aat  is 
the  one  intended  I  suppose  to  representFAHE  ? — II  Cortbg. 
Her  presence  is  necessary  to  puff  off  some  pass^es^of  his 
Majesty's  compositions.  But  whether  she  is  lauding  or 
damning  the  royal  and  noble  author,  the  artist  has  not 
tihooght  proper  to  convey  to  us. — ^^lf.  An  author^  too,  stands 
up,  generally,  or  kneels  when  he  presents  such  an  offering, 
especially  to  a  lady  ? — Edgar.  You  forget  this  is  a  publica- 
tion by  royal  authority.  I  think  she  is  laughing  on  that  side 
of  hier.moutb,  turned  from  the  king? — 1^  Cortxg«  She  may 
well  indulge,  even  a  good  horse-laugh:  and  the  cracked 
tmmpet  she  carries,  is  no  bad  instrument  for  conveying  that 
kind  of  music  in  sonorous  and  reiterated  blasts.  All  this 
bombast,  howevei^  columns,  statue,  and  so  forth,  mogfat 
easily  be  chipped  away  without  prejudice  to  the  rest  of  die 
tower  and  quadrangle. — ^Edgar.  They  would  be  only  the 
better,  by  suoh  alteration.-^LADY  G.  Though  these  laige 
sqoate  windows  are  too  much  like  sash  or  shop-windows, 

I  like  the  effect .  of  the  mullions  and.  transoms,  I  think 
you  call  them,  that  divide  the  upper  surface  in  trefoil&*^ 

II  Cortbo*  They  shew  that  the  cqpright  and  cross. sticks  m 
our  modem  sash-frames,  are,  after  all, .  nothing  else  than 
mullions  and  transoms.  But  every  one  must  admire  the  real 
ohamcteristic  feature  of  this  building ;  the  shrine-work  pan- 


.    THE  SCHOOLS. 

'nelling  of*  its  walls^  atidiK  oonsideroble  numba:  of  crocketted 
^itinades  oontihued  all  round  the  quadrangle. 

E0GA1U  The  western  side  is  wrought  all  over  with  tm- 
eery,'  forming  successive  tiers  of  shallow  flat  niches^  or  taber- 
mude- work.  An  embrasured  parapet  borders  the  whole  inte- 
lior^  as  well  as  exterior  summit  of  the  building. — ^Falk.  In 
the  upper  stories  are  the  Bodleian  Librarf ,  and  Picture  Gal- 
lery ;  in  tb^  two  lower  are  the  several  Schools  :  on  the  doors 
of  each,  respectively,  are  inscribed,  the  titles  in  l«atin,  of  the 
several  artS)  to  the  examinations  in  which  it  is  devoted. 
These  lower  rooms,  ako,  contain  the  Arundelian  Marbles ; 
together  with  the  collections  of  statues,  busts,  altars,  &c. 
presented  by  d&e  Countess  of  Pomfret. 

In  the  centre  of  the  western  side  of 'the  court,  within  a 
doistepsd  recess,  we  have  now  only  to  pass  through  this  door, 
leading  us  to  the  Divinity  School.  In  this,  the  exercises  for 
the  degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Doctor  in  Divinity,  are  per- 
formed. It  is  divided,  as  you  see,  by  a  carved  railing,  into 
two  parts. — ^Edgar.  I  observe  in  the  upper  part  a  pulpit,! 
avppose  for  the  professor  ? — ^Falk.  Yes,  and  these  desks  are 
far  the  disputants,  &c.  while  this  lower  part  is  for  the  learned 
aodience. — Ii.  Cobtbo.  This  indeed  is  stupendous ;  the  am-< 
pie  size  of  these  windows,  their  slender  mullions^  and  the 
gmceful  ramifications  of  that  tracery,  filling  their  arched 
beads;  above  all,  this  awful  embowed  roof,  with  its  rich  and 
elaborate  carving,  all  in  stone,  strike  me  more  than  almost 
any  specimen  which  has  been  preserved  of  pointed  archi*^ 
fecture. 

-'  JElf.  Some  call  this  English  architecture,  meaning, 
that  it  is  of  English  invention  ? — II  CortbiI.  They  might 
Hs^wellcall  the  wo<dlen  manufacture  an  English  invention.  I 
kneiW'DaUaway  thinks  he  has  disoovered  that  village-spiKs 
Are  also  of  English  invention. — ^Ladt  G.  Has  he  ever  been 
in  Flanders  ?— If  not,  has  he  ever  seen  any  one.  of  the 

k  2 


DIALOGUE  UF^ON  OXFORD. 

thousands  of  engnvings  in  London,  of  Flembb^  Swiss,  mmI 
Dutcli  views  ?  These  would  satisfy  him,  that  neither  one  nor 
tbe  other  are  Englbh. — ^Falk.  These  are  mere  puffing  arti- 
fices of  the  modem  publishers,  and  pious  frauds  of  certain 
Jesuitical  missionaries.  Dr.  Milner  has  even  endeavoured 
to  make  it  out  that  the  Roman  Catholic  superstition  is  also 
English.  These  well  know  how  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
generosity  of  John  Bull,  who  is  deservedly  and  laudably  na- 
tional. If  you  could  once  persuade  John  Bull,  that  even 
the  Devil  himself  ^<  was  Ms  nown  bqyt"  be  would  out  of 
pure  pride  take  his  part,  and  afterwards  take  a  liking  to  him. 

But  the  woollen  manufacture  has  been  cultivated  in  so 
superior  a  degree  in  England,  as  a  staple  one,  that  it  is  be- 
come, in  a  manner,  appropriated  to  England.— Ll  CoBiao. 
Aye  !  now  you  have  found  out  the  real  secret  of  the  enor 
about  English  architecture. 

Fai.k.  This  admirable  structure  we  are  now  contempla- 
ting, was  completed  in  the  year  1480,  under  the  auspices  and 
benefactions  of  Humphrey,  the  good  Duke  of  Gloacester. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  we  owe  it  to  Sir  Cliristopher 
Wren,  the  state  of  preservation  it  now  exhibits ;  under  his 
direction  this  inestimable  roof,  then  in  danger  of  falling,  was 
judiciously  and  firmly  repaired.  The  side  walls  were 
strengthened  by  those  elegant  additional  buttresses,  "  which 
impart  so  much  grace,  as  Wade  says,  to  the  exterior  of  the 
building.  From  the  upper  part,  and  from  the  library,  shoot 
up  a  number  of  tall  pinnacles,  crocketted,  and  superbly 
terminated  with  coronal  finials.'' — Mlv.  These  mingling 
with  the  foliage  of  the  trees,  in  Exeter-garden,  have  an  en- 
chanling  eflfect. 

Fax.k.  The  Bodleian  Library  is  contained  principally 
(not  wholly)  in  three  extensive  rooms;  over  the  Divinity 
School,  and  Convocation-house ;  in  the  form  of  the  Roman 
letter  H.    Tlie  first  upright  of  that  letter,  makes  the  wcatcm 


THE  SCHOOLS. 

side  of  the  conrt  in  tbe  Schools'  quadrangle.  A  former 
Ldbraiy  here,  the  donation  in  14^0,  of  the  good  Huniphreyy 
Duke  of  GloQcester,  son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  was  inestimably 
rich  in  illuminated  manuscripts  and  rubrics.  Nothing  in 
modem  printing,  or  engraved  and  coloured  illustration,  or 
eren,  almost,  in  modem  painting  itself,  could  exceed  the 
MSS.  on  vellum ;  adorned  with  miniatures. — ^II  Corteg. 
They  were  scarcely  more  expensive,  however,  than  soikie  of 
our  modem  publications,  which,  what  with  the  duties  im- 
posed on  paper  and  prints,  and  with  the  monopolising 
spirit  of  the  great  publishers,  have  brought  us  back,  (as  an 
eloquent  writer  lately  deceased,  has  ingeniously  expressed 
it,)  to  the  scarcity  and  dearness  of  a  manuscript-age. — 
Edgar.  By  this  they  have  rendered  null,  the  very  benefit 
promised  by  the  invention  of  printing ;  which  was  to  have 
books  at  little  cost  by  means  of  the  press's  multiplying 
power  ad  infinitum;  and  that  with  a  despatch  as  wonderful 
as  the  number,  and  correctness  of  copies.<~FALK.  This 
whole  Library,  however,  at,  and  before,  or  since  the  Reform- 
ation, has  been  plundered  and  dispersed ;  one  copy  only, 
and  that  of  half  a  work,  Val:  Maxim  os  remains.  Nay, 
the  very  desks  and  shelves  were  sold,  as  if  tainted  with  the 
contagion  of  such  popish  relics.  Windows  were  glazed  with 
the  finest  MSS.  and  it  took  years  for  bakers  to  consume  them 
in  lighting  their  ovens. — ^Eboar.  This  reminds  me  of  the 
Mahommedan  Conqueror;  who,  I  believe,  caused  the  Libraiy 
of  Alexandria,  containing  the  whole  learning  and  discoveries 
of  the  Pagan  world,  to  be  gradually  but  totally  reduced  to 
ashes,  in  lighting  the  stoves  for  the  baths  in  £gypt.-^lL 
CoRTBO.  This  might  console  many  a  modem  author,  whose 

* 

works  enlighten  the  public,  and  illuminate  the  streets  by  night- 
in  shape  only  of  paper  lanterns,  at  the  apple- women's  stalls 
of  London. 

Sir  Thomas  Bodly  was  the  founder  of  the  present  H* 


DIALOGUE  UPpK  OXFORD. 

braiy.  It  would  take  volumes  to  make  even  a  selection  of 
Dames  of  works,  from  tbe  catalogues  bardy :  aad  a  life  might 
be  consumed  in  exploring  duly  the  contents  of  this  temple  of 
bibliography,  as  I  may  <^all  it,  in  one  single  niche  only.  Tbfe 
first  stone  of  the  vestibule^  or  prosehoUvan,  was  laid  im 
16IQ, 

lu  CoRTBO.  It  would  consume,  (merely  to  run  over  thtf 
list  of  donors  of  whole  collections  of  books  to  the  Bodleian 

» 

Library),  as  many  mornings  as  we  .can  spare  for  the  objects 
of  this  whole  excursion ;  therefore  we  cannot  stop  to  enter 
upon  "tb^  catalogue  even.  Among  these  collections^  the 
Earl  of  Pembroke  had  reserved  out  of  Francis  Baroccio's 
collections  of  Greek  MSS.  twenty-two  select  MSS.  from  the 
donation  he  had  made  to  the  Bodleian  at  the  instance  of 
Laud.  Oliver  Cromwell  bought  these,  and  presented  them 
to  the  Library. 

With  the  Bodleian,  says  Dallaway,  the  Ambrosian  at 
Milab,  the  Minerva  at  Rome^  and  the  several  libraries  at 
Florence,  the  royal  library  at  Parb,  and  that  of  the  British 
Museum,  will  advance  their  peculiar  clums  of  equality,  either 
in  point,  of  number  or  curiosity. 

The  number  of  volumes  in  this  inestimable  collection  is 
not  accurately  known ;  it  is  computed  at  160,000,  of  whidi 
30,000  are  MSS. 

EiMAE.  It  is  said  to  be  very  strong  in  classical  and  critkal 
works;  in  early  editions  of  the  classics  '^  very  superior;" 
but  in  wtntal  manuscripts  to  be  unrivalled.  In  manuscripts,* 
generally i  it  is  exceeded  only  by  the  Vatican.  Tbe  oriental 
are  the  most  rare  and  beautiful  in  any  European  collection. 
The  Vatican  contidns  80,000  books  at  the  largest  calcoktioD, 
by  far  the  greater  part  of  which  are  manuscripts. 

Falk.  It  would  be  dangerous  for  ynu  to  trust  yooraelf 
without  a  clue  in  this  world  of  books ;  millions  of  winding 
labyrinths  of  learning  would  lead  you  for  yeans  imtold,  and 


iLiRAii;E''iCBAffa, 


THE  9CH60Lg. 

when  yoar  whole  lile  were  spent  you  would  amre  at  this 
•  comfoitable  refleetion  only,^— that  it  would  take  many  lives 
more. 

Lady  G.  (^Jbid  aUJ.  It  is  impossible  to  make  adequate 
acknowledgements  for  the  riiarked  attention  of  the  librarian, 
and  sub-librarian,  to  all  strangers. 

Edgar.  The  Arundelian  marbles  were  collected  by  the 
Earl  of  Arundel,  who  had  sent  Sir  William  Petty  to  Asia,  in 
'quest  of  inscriptions  and  other  remains  of  antiquity.  Sir 
William  purchased  these  of  a  Turk,  who  bad  taken  them  from 
an  agent  of  the  fiimous  historian  and  numismatist  Peiresc. 
Unfortunately,  besides  a  whole  ship-loa^d  lost  by  Petty  him- 
self, many  of  those  even  thus  obtained  have  been  destroyed ; 
some  were  purloined ;  others  were  actually  cut  up  by  igno^ 
rant  masons,  and  worked  into  houses.  All  that  now  remain, 
ISO  in  number,  are.  here.  To  these  have  been  added,  the 
•collection  made  by  the  learned  Selden:  that  also  of  Sir 
George  Wheler,  formed  by  himself  at  Athens  :  and  sundry 
.  ancient  marbles  that  were  purchased  by  the  Univenity.-^ 
Il  Cortbo.  It  is  worth  while  to  look  into  the  Marmora 
Oxoniensia  for  an  account  of  these,  and  for  Selden 's  explica- 
tion of  them,  in  a  book  written  expressly  thereon  in  1625, 
which  has  been  of  great  help  to  D.  Petau,  Saumaise,  Vossius, 
:and  several  learned  men,  in  their  works. 

Falk.  The  portraits  of  founders  in  the  picture  gallery  are 
mostly  fictitious.  John  de  Baliol  is  nothing  more  than  a 
blacksmith;  and  Dervorguille,  his  lady,  b  no  other  than 
Jenny  Reeks,  an  apothecary's  daughter,  of  Oxford— ;a  ce- 

L 

lebrated  beauty  of  those  days. 

Observe  that  chair,  it  was  made  of  a  piece  of  timber 
•tvhich  belonged  to  the  identical  ship  in  which  Sir  Frauds 
'Drake  immortalised  hia  own,  and  his  country's  name. 

Lady  G.  But  in  thb  first  view  of  Oxford^  our  object 
is  to  observe  its  gnnd  leading  traits,  and  not  to  enter  into 


t#»  MMy  ^laUi»-»'li  C!oetm.  lode^  w%  QEomoi,  we  mmt 
j$t  lM«t  4ete  thii.emiite9lM>a  of  in  pictwm^  «t«Ui«9^  bm^i 
and  other  marbles,  till  some  future  opportanity. 

Falk.  The  learoei  Edyitoie  of  ih«  Athutjv^  shewed 
m««  in  the  ureblVfA  here,  ib«  iiMtn<mliiltiQB-b<MA  of  tbie 
University,  whereia,  among  so  oviy  other  iUiflrioiu  Jtmmm3 
he  poiisted  out  to  me  thai  of  Charlea  the  Vnntt ;  eindeiotd  by 
Ihe  prince's  autagrq>bic  sigoatme,  p«l  down  to  the  book  t)ie 
very  morning  he  was  nMitiiciihited.'T<*|440T  G.  Of  the  vavieas 
objects  of  interest  io  this  j^^tore^g^Uery,  tbMPa  is  om  that 
atrikea  me  as  peculiar  to  it ;  b«l  it  is  so  iostruolive,  that  I  wiab 
the  mahers  of  aimilar  ooHeetiona  would  inqlude  it  in  tbeh 
plans  whenever  it  is  possible  ;  the  portrait  of  Dryden  (and 
of  some  other  remarkable  men),  taken  at  diflRBrent  peiiods  of 
life,  that  of  boyhood,  manhood,  and  old  age^ 

Edgae«  In  the  statutes  of  St  Mary's  Collogr,  Osfoi^f 
founded  as  a  seminary  to  Osney  Abbey  in  the  yea?  1446,  is 
this  provision,  according  to  the  author  of  the  Olactmimw : 
*^  Let  no  scholar  occupy  a  book  in  the  library  above  one  howj 
«r  two  hours  at  most,  lest  others  be  hindered  from  th^  we 
of  the  same."  In  1497  and  1498,  the  Oxoaiana  reiQffk 
upon  this,  '^  that  it  is  a  proof  of  the  scarcity  of  book$«"'^lL 
CoaTflo*  It  is  rather  a  proof  of  the  avidity  and  number  of 
readers  ?  The  same  happens  at  this  very  day  in  all  reaiUqg 
rooms,  as  to  popular  works  (let  there  be  never  SQ  qwny 
replicates  of  these),  and  more  remarkably  as  to  ordinal 
newspapers.^FAi^K.  It  was  at  St«  Mary's  th«y|  Eraamwi  stu- 
died. 

Il  Cortkg.  As  a  mode  of  poblieation,  in  Ijbe  same?  Om- 
ntana,  it  b  noticed,  that  the  grammarians  (who  wore  a  badge 
by  the  way),  stipulated  to  affix  a  certain  number  of  heaamete^ 
on  the  great  gates  of  St.  Mary's  Gburchj  thut  ihei^  ought  he 
eeen  by  the  whole  University. 


T^  ^  ^!>.* '. 'J,':;   ^^i-il  .  :^,'.  k 


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<    •/  r; 


WAODAXiBlf  OOXiLBOE. 


Il  Corteo.  This  College^  one  of  the  richest  foundations 

in  Europe^  combines  many  subjects  of  interest.  Its  sprightly 

tower  is  the  first  object  which  strikes  the  traveller  upon 

entering  Oxford  from  the  east.    It  possesses  in  its  first  courts 

as  ID  its  tower^  exquisite  specimens  of  the  collegiate  style^ 

as  in  its  chapel^  of  the  pointed :  in  the  next  (its  cloister), 

specimens  of  the  maniera  tedesca,  or  the  grotesque ;  which 

some,  would  translate  rather  by  burlesque.    Beyond  that 

again  to  the  norths  the  area  of  a  magnificent  new  quadrangle, 

in  the   modem  style,   one  side  of  which  standing  on  an 

arcade,  is  finished  i  the  opposite  side,  consisting  of  the  old 

buildings,  are  not  a  little  interesting ;  while  the  prospects 

through  the  other  two  sides,  yet  open  and  unbuilt  upon,  are 

more  interesting  than  either :  it  has  a  little  park,  adoraed 

with  noble  forest  trees,  and  stocked  with  deer ;  adjoining  to 

which,  in  a  far  different  (Character,  is  the  water-walk,  formed 

by  the   Cherwell  flowing  round  an  enchanting  meadow. 

Here  Addison  delighted  to  compose  and  think ;  here,  too, 

the  mind  of  Collins,  united  as  it  was  to  a  feeble  frame,  first 

caught  that  poetic  rapture,  which,  too  soon  I  consumed  him. 

Edoar.  But  greater  men  have  trod,  and,  as  it  were,  hal- 
lowed, this  ground  ; — here  have  been  martyrs  for  religion 
and  liberty.  This  College  found  a  president  and  a  whole 
society  sworn  to  withstand  the  arbitraiy  power  of  James  the 
Second :  having  before  sent  out  a  Hampden  to  resist  the 
illegal  measures  of  his  unhappy  father — ^fiist  in  the  public 
tribunals,  and  then  in  the  field  where  he  died.  Besides  its 
long  list  of  prelates,  the  cardinals  Pole  and  Wolsey,  of  whom 
the  gentle  dignity  of  one,  contrasted  the  haughty  stateliness 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

of  the  Other,  it  lays  chdm  to  Dean  Colet^  Bishop  Home, 
Latimer,  Hough,  Bodley,  Linacre,  and  Wootton.  Besides 
Addison  and  CoUiasy  it  had  the  poets  Yalden  and  HammoDd; 
Fox,  the  martyrologist;  Heylin;  Chiimead,  the  phDologist ; 
Coles  and  Lilly,  the  lexicographer  and  grammarian ;  not 
omitting  Gibbofii  who,  in  the  particular  character  of  his 
genius,  ought  rather  to  be  classed  with  these  last,  than  with 
kgitioiate  historians. — 1l  Cobtb«.  It  was  the  great  sabject 
pf  Gibbon,  the  rise  of  the  modern  nations  of  Europe  on  the 
pecline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire,  as  weU  as  his  critical 
end  high-colouring  pencil  in  the  then  fashionable  cause  oi 
4eism,  that  have  shed  a  false  and  onfbous  halo  around  his 
name*  He  had  not  sufBdeot  gravity  and  solidity  of  judg- 
ment, nor  was  his  discitetion  high  and  coibprehen»v6  enodgby 
sufficiently  profound  and  dear,  to  manage  the  historic  pencil.' 
Or  to  borrow  an  allusion'  from  another  fine  alt,'  our  imagi- 
nation,, and  ear,  and  memory,  are  jaded  and  confused  afker 
being  hurried  through  long  and  intricate  sonatas  of  loud 
brisk  movements,  ih  a  style  always  of  equal  p&oh^  aid  that 
^trained  to  the  utmost ;  all  of  equal  emphasis ;  no  pause  nor 
interval,  nor  change  of  key ;  nothing  simple,  t<Aiching,  and 
pathetic ;  monotony  without  unity ;  intfpotency  of  eotaibi- 
nation  to  unite  so  continued  and  varied  A  Strain  as'  fa!^  theme 
demands,  in  one  grand  composition ;  utter  imbecility  for  any 
work  di  prima  intenzione.  The  cast  of  his  thoughts,  jmd 
sentences,  and  taste,  is  F^endi,  as  you  will  fi^,  if  ydu  try 
the  experiment ;  for  he  tluAight  in  th&t  language,  aiid  formed 
his  style  on  the  iteviewer^  of  that  natioii:  hara^  b^en 
educated  hi  Ibe  P^ys  ^  Vaiud  bj  Frdneh  picceptoBS,  afte 
abjuring  his  ;i^2tfia  iAir^,-^4iere. 

Paul.  As  Hume  corrupted  the  natibnal  philosephy  m^A 
true  loyalty,  together  with,  its  sbundest  best  belief,  so  has 
Gibbon  our  style: '  For  after  all  he  was  a  mere  plololpgist, 
certunly  no  philosopher.    I  have  often  thought;  thkt  as  his 


MA^PAGMLBN  COLLB6E;     • 

book  oonuios  ioemoirs/ypur  servit  a  Phistaire,  thatiC  would 
he  A  good  service  to  literature  and  taste^  as  well  as  to  the 
cause  of  reKgiM^  to  re*cast  it  in  a  chaste  bi^oiioal  compo"' 
sitioQ ;  but  esoctbf  inverting  the  moral  of  it. 

Il  CoRTJla.  Let  us  pass  on  to  better  subjects.  In  Hat 
Earl  of  I>igby»  also  of  tiiis  College,  we  have  a  lesson  coa^ 
Teying  the  melancholy  moral,  how  dangerous  it  is  for  an: 
honest  man  to  serve  a  weak  and  obstinate,  prince^  governed 
by  liiinioos,'  in^restedly  flattering  a  high  conceit  of  his 
own  infallible  judgment  and  absolute  powen  Su/ch  a  matr 
has  fimt  to  conquer  himself,  and  then  to  walk  ori  steadfastly, 
solitarily,  and  resolutely  to  hb  fate  unpitied,  but  seeing  all 
afong  before  him  his  ruin  slowly  advancing,  and  mevitable.  ^ 

FALfc.  Now  that  we  hate  entered  the  court,  we  find  it 
to.  be  in  the  character  .and  tone  of  the  better  parts  of  the 
Schools,  of  Baltol  aud  Oriel  Colleges^  with  not  .very  maiterial 
variations ;  just  as  in  jrkiging  changes  on  At  o^  eight  beUs.> 
Yet,  I  confess,'  as  that  national  chime,  from  early  assodation, 
afliebts  me  most  sbgularlyi  sa  do  the  repetitiohs  of  these 
pleasing  forms  of  collegiate  architecture  ?  I  am  never  tired, 
of  them.  ^^  We  have  here  facing  us,*'  as  Wade  salys,  (for  I 
need  not  mention  the  Doric  gateway  at  which  we  enteredy 
which'  screens  tiiis  court,  as  I  understand  it  u  to  be  removed^ 
and  the  sooner  the  better),  '*  upon  entering  the  couri,  a 
noble  gateway,  a  tower  on  one  hand,  and  on  the  other  Ae 
weBtem  front  of  the  cbapd.  The  south  side  of  the  court 
presents  a  low  range  of  rooms  widitheir  little  battlements; 
while  the  president's  lodgings  foonihe'  north  side;  This* 
gateway' towe^  waa'oxigiQaUy  the  entraniSe  intothl&g^eat 
quadrangle^  now  disused*  There  are  theiaraes  and  shrubs  '6f 
huLdriaot  gtbiMh^  whieh  conceal  much  of  'the  lowdi'  ^^art, 
andtbitt  just  allow  a^tmpaeof  ^e  finely-pann^Aled  gate,' 
wUoh  cfeses  the  portal  in  the  inferior  story.  Ab&rei  iM 
gate  is  the  superb  oriel  window,  very  Vofiy  mtHmbtA^ed, 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

belonging  to  a  room  called  the  founder's  chamber.  On  eadi 
tide  of  this  window  are  richly  canopied  niches^  containing 
by  a  whimsical  association,  the  statues  of  the  founder,  of 
Henry  the  Third,  St.  John  the  Baptbt,  and  the  Mary  Mag- 
dalen* The  tower  haa,  as  usual,  an  embrasured  parapet,  to 
which  additional  strength  has  been  given  by  double  buttiessei 
at  the  angles,  and  additional  beauty  by  the  tall  erocketted 
pinnacles  on  the  summit. 

^^  The  front  of  the  chapel  (which,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  court,  serves  as  a  counterpart  to  this),  though  spoiled 
in  its  effect  by  a  heavy  octagonal  turret  at  the  north-west 
angle/'  (possibly  containing  a  staircase),  thb  firont  has  a 
central  and  two  side  windows  pointed  :  the  central  one  is 
separated  from  the  two  others  by  buttresses.    Underneath 
h  the  highly-enriched  entrance  porch.    In  the  batdement 
of  this  porch,  you  may  observe  five  small  canopied  niches, 
each  of  which  is  filled  by  a  sculptured  figure  of  good  work- 
manship for  the  age  which  produced  it.    The  subjects  are 
replicates  of  the  four  statues  enumerated  above  on  the  other 
side  of  the  court,  with  the  addition  of  \^Iliam  of  Wykeham. 
Beneath  the  parapet,  which  is  embattled,  a  moulding  is 
carried,  thickly  set  with  grotesquely  carved  heads,  with  which 
many  other  parts  of  this  Ck>llege  are  lavishly  adorned." 

Il  Cortbg.  This  ceiling  of  the  chapel  I  see  is  in  the 
pointed  style  |  but  I  wish  I  could  not  so  often  see  the  orna- 
ments, skreen,  and  altar,  in  the  Corinthian.  The  painting 
under  the  altar  of  Christ  bearing  the  cross,  engraved  by 
Sherwin,  is  said  to  be  by  Moralez. 

Falk.  In  the  place  of  that  oigan,  there  formerly  stood 
another,  which  is  now  in  the  church  of  Tewksbury.  Oliver 
Cromwell,  who  was  very  fond  of  music,  saved  it  ftom  the 
destruction  intended  it  by  some  fiinatics  of  that  time,  and 
had  it  conveyed  to  Hampton  Court  for  hb  own  amusement. 

Il  Cortjbg.  But  let  us  eye  more  particularly  the  tower 


MAGPAliBFT   TOT«XR. 


MAGDALEN  COLLEGE. 

80  often  meotionedy  standing  on  the  northern  side  of  the 
chaplain's  courts  and  so  conspicuous  an  object  on  entering 
Oxford^  as  well  as  in  every  distant  view  of  the  city.  It  is 
divided  into  four  stories^  in  three  of  which  there  is  a  pointed 
window  on  each  side  of  the  tower^  ''  of  simple  and  pleasing 
effect;  in  each  face  of  the  upper  story »  are  two  lofty  windows 
of  more  elaborate  workmanship.  Above  these^  the  tower 
displays  much  ornamental  sculpture^  and  is  crowned  by  an 
open-wrought  battlement.  From  the  angles  of  the  tower 
project  slend^  turrets  of  an  octagonal  form,  which  being 
carried  up  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  parapet,  ter-v 
minste  in  richly  croclcetted  pinnacles,  between  each  of 
which  is  inserted  another  pinnacle  of  equal  height,  but  of 
more  delicate  proportions.  Tradition  ascribes  the  erection  of 
this  tower  to  Cardinal  Wolsey,  who  was  bursar  of  this  College. 
Falk.  In  the  hall,  the  roof  of  which  is  recent,  in  the  pointed 
style,  are  the  portraits  of  Prince  Rupert  and  Addison ;  also 
of  Henry,  Prince  of  Wales ;  Boulter,  primate  of  Armagh ; 
and  SachevereU,  once  the  friend  of  Addison,  in  thig  place. 
Also,  a  full  length  of  the  Magdalen,  said  to  be  by  Guercino. 
Let  us  return  into  the  ^prand  cloister. 

OBDZPUS  KAODAItBITEMSZS. 

Ladt  6.  What  is  the  meaning  of  these  uncouth  figures 
around  this  cloister,  which  some  of  the  guides  called  Hiero- 
glyphics, or  sacred  sculptures,  containing  certain  mysteries  ? 
Il  Coetbo.  Their  meaning  or  sense  is  evidently  a  mystery ; 
Md  so  far  from  being  sacred  compositions,  I  should  ascribe 
them  to  Beelzebub.  I  think  they  are  in  the  manner  of  that 
anist 

Falx.  An  explanation  has  been  given  by  a  very  $hrewd 
scholar  of  the  seventeenth  century ;  you  will  see  whether  it  is 
not  as  appropriate  as  the  title  which  has  been  given  him  of 


_  J 


DiMOdOfi   UPON   OXIttfHD. 

dSdifNtf  MagdaleneiifiiiSi^-^EoGAii*  Each  figuMis  a-riddld 
tar  puzzle;  the  whole  group,!  think,  ig  acompoundedsphyDS. 

Ih  CoRTBa»  Some  think  he  meant  his  explaniitibn  li«4 
Mtire  upon  the  University.-^FALX.  They  aia  mistaken  r  he 
never  wti»  more  serious  hi  his  life,  and  he  was  not  a  little 
ytttn-of  hie' discovery. — II  Cortbo*  The  figures  themselves 
have  been  thought  to  have  been,  originally,  a  satire  updn 
the  legulafs  and  mendicants ;  while  these  again,  determilied 
Bot  to  be  outdone  in  compliment,  affirm,  that  it  is  a  faithful 
(epiesentation.df  the  seculars*  But  to  return  to  bur  CEdipns^ 
who,  we.  will  tdce  it  for  gmnted,  was  smoitf,  and  had  dot 
the  least  intention -in  the  world  to  banter  his  admiring 
audience. 

Falk.  Some  will  have  it,  that  they  are  emblems  of  the 
course  ft>r  degrees,  and  of  the  virtues  and  talents  to-be  found 
exclusively  wUhm  the  walls  of  Colleges,  contrasted  by  the 
apposite  vices  and  ignorance,  which  prevail  out  of  themi 
among  laymen  especially ;  who,  we  know^  are  all  gentiles  and 
heathens. 

LatDY  G.  But  let  us  hear  the  (Edipus  Magdalenensis 
upon  them ;  to  begin  with  the  lion  and  the  pelfcan.-^FALK. 
These,  with  exquisite  propriety,  are,  he  says,  placed  under 
the  president's  lodgings,  to  denote  his  character ;  the  former 
being  the  emblem  of  strength,  and  the  latter  of  parental 
tenderness  and  affisctiop. — LapyG*  Nothing,  caii  be  more 
ohasacteristic  erf  the  governor  of  a  coUegp  I 
^,  r,  Epoar.  What  was  the  object,  pray,  o£  his  parental  affec*^ 
t|oi)s  in  an  age  when  governors  of  Colleges,  it, was  thought, 
Aould  lead  a  life  of  celibacy,  and  of  course  could  have  no 
offspring  ?«^Falr»  The  object  of  his  tenderness  wai  that  ab- 
stract being  the  College  itself,  to  which  he  stood  in  locopOf^ 

'   MhT.  You  say^  by  the  bye,  that  all.  these  figures*  are 
Emblematical  of  the  duties  and  business  of  the  president  and 


MAGDALEN  COLLBGB; 

society,  and  they  are  xanged,  as  we  see,  ea  the  ouiaide  (Ak 
tlieir  rooms.  Is  not  that  the  wrong,  side,  and  ought*  theyf 
not  to  be  somewhere  eke,  as  within,  suppose  ? — Faul,  J£ 
they  were  within^  they  might  become  too  familiar^  aiid  too» 
many  freedoms  might  be  taken  with  them*  They  are-kept 
at  a  respectful  distance,  and  placed  high  up,  conspicuons  to) 
the  eye  of  the  public^  as  they  convey  the  most  marked  and 
suitable  instructions  for  the  society* s  conduct. 

LiADT  G.  But  what  analogy  is- there  between  a  president^- 
(wbo  is  an  ecclesiastic  to-boot),  and  a  lion  ?  I  have,  indeed^ 
frequently  heard  of  some  compared  to  a  bear  ? — Ii«-CoaTBG* 
I  aoi  sure  a  president  is  as  like  a  lion,  and  a  pelican  too,  at^ 
the  same  time,  as  any  of  those  two  figures  are  to  either. 

Falk.  The  next  four  represent  the  Aristotelian  sophist, 
the  Norman  Lawyer,  the  Quack  Doctor,  and  the  Divine  of 
the  monastic  ages,— ^Il.Cortbg.  The  three  fint  are  put* 
down  by  the  last,  to  denote,  I  suppose,  so  many  Phili^tiner 
smashed  by  the  jaw-bone  of  an  ass.— tFalk.  A  sly  hint  of 
this  kind  is  conveyed,  no  doubt,  by  a  figure  (in  a  comer)' 
wearing  the  emblem  of  a  cap  and  bells;  which  are  imme- 
diately followed,  (though  not  exactly  as- you. would  expect),  by 
David  vanquishing  in  the  manner  you  see  is  done  here,  a  lion- 
and  Goliah. 

Edgar.  I  think  the  cap  and  bells  should  be  put  onthe 
heads  of  the  lion  and  Goliah^  for  sufiering  David  to  master* 
them  jvith  so  little  exerHan  on  his  part.*— sSlf*  I  mistook  all- 
three  at  first,  for  a  man  fondling  a  monkey,,  and  a  lap-dog. 

Il  Cortbg.  I  see  nothing  here  of  what  artists  call  play 
and  action  of  the  muscles,  and  energy  of  the  chisel.— *Edgar, 
David,  in  bestriding  the  lion,  looks  for  all  the  world- like  a 
little  urchiu  riding  on  his  father's  walking  stick* 

Falk.  But  you  forget  the  moral :  the  very  intention  of 
the  sculptor  was  to  shew  that  we  ought  not  to  be  frightened 
by  any  difficulties  that  lie  in  our  way. — Ladt  G.  No,  indeed, 


DIALOGUS  UPON  OXFORD. 

especially  if  they  stand  to  be  knocked  on  the  head^  as  the 
Kon  and  Goliah  do  here.— Falk.  The  vigour  of  yoatk 
will  easily  enable  us  to  surmount  any  danger.    And  who 

4 

knows,  but  Dand  has  judiciously  begun  by  ramming  Aris- 
totle down  the  Philistine's  throat ;  and  riding  on  the  lion  at 
the  same  time,  of  course  the  Philistine  would  walk  off. — 
SdJf.  The  artist  has  said  nothing  about  all  this,  that  I  can 
see. — ^Falk.  It  is  a  rule  among  good  sculptors  not  to  say 
every  thing ;  always  to  leave  something  to  the  imagination. 
— &L9.  I  am  sure  there  is  enough  left  for  imagination  here. 

Fajlk.  Next  follows  the  Hippopotamus,  or  River-horse, 
carrying  his  young  one  on  his  shoulder.  I  need  not  tell  yoo 
that  this  is  the  emblem  of  a  good  tutor. 

Mt>v*  Yes,  nothing  can  be  more  like! — ^Ii.  Cohtbg. 
Nothing  can  convey  so  naturally  the  attributes  of  the  tutor 
of  a  College,  who  is  set  to  teach  the  young  succuboses  of  the 
society ;  and  by  whose  prudence  and  example  they  are  led 
through  the  dangers  of  their  first  entrance  into  life.  The 
River-horse  is  so  intimately  connected  with  the  art  of  swim- 
ming, of  boat-matches,  race-grounds,  keeping  a  good  look 
out  at  the  Proctor,  &c.  The  young  sinner,  squatting  on  the 
old  one's  shoulders,  and  peeping  about  him,  I  vow,  is  as  like 
the  dam  as  it  can  stare  1 

Falk.  We  have  after  this,  as  a  most  natural  consequence, 
and  highly  characteristic,  the  figure  of  sobriety  or  temper- 
ance, that  well-known,  and  most  inseparable  attendant  of  a 
College-life.— XiADT  G.  There  is  great  propriety  in  that,  I 
think  ! 

Muf.  Ought  there  not  to  be  some  contrast  of  counte- 
nance and  figure,  between  the  virtues  and  vices  ?  They  seem 
here,  like  brothers  and  sisters. 

Falk.  That  is  the  art  of  the  sculptor,  he  did  so  on  pur- 
pose. It  is  the  practice  of  the  best  writers  to  make  them 
kindred.    Besides,  the  spectator,  as  well  as  the  student,  has 


MAGDALEN  COLLEGE. 

here  occasion  to  exercise  bis  iogeDuity^  to  distinguish  one 
from  the  other.  And  if  it  would  puzzle^  even  an  CEdipos^  to 
do  SO9  the  merit  is  the  greater  thereby.  It  is  for  this  reason, 
I  suppose,  that  that  moral  writer,  Mr.  Hume,  in  a  book 
which  he  was  facetiously  pleased  to  call  ^'  the  History  of 
England,"  has  made  the  virtues  and  vices  so  perfectly  alike 
at  court,  that  a  superficial  observer  uniformly  accosts  one 
for  another ;  which  causes  all  that  pleasant  embarrassment 
we  enjoy  at  a  masquerade. 

Lady  6.  Hieroglyphics,  like  any  vulgar  mystery,  should 
be  always  very  closely  wrapped  up. — ^Edgar.  Or,  perhaps^ 
our  artist  here  must  be  understood  by  the  rule  of  contraries. 
Falk.  The  obvious  meaning  of  any  hieroglyphic,  that  would 
strike  a  plain  roan,  is  never  the  one  intended. 

Il  Cortbg.  But  this  way  of  explanation  by  eoatrarles, 
might  occasion  some  droll  mistakes  here  :.  as  the  applying 
to  the  governors  what  is  meant  for  the  scholars  and  students, 
and  vice*versa.  The  sculptor  might  thus  lead  us  to  follow 
the  vices,  which  it  is  obvious,  he  here  instructs  us  to  avoid. 

JElf.  He  has  taken  good  case,,  at  least,  that  his  chbel 
shaU  not  render  them  very  seducing.  It  would  have  been 
better  if  bis  virtues  did  not  look  like  their  opposites. 

Edgar.  By  a  sort  of  compensation,  he  has  made  them 
all  scare-crows  alike 

Il  Cortbg.  I  am  sure  his  gluttony  is  enough  to  give 
the  spedator  a  surfeit. 

Edgar..  And  as  for  his  drunkenness,  no  doubt,  he  in- 
tended to  represent  it  as  ill  as  he  could  :  just  as  the  Spartans 
used  to  exhibit  their  slaves,  in  a  state  of  intoxication,  to  in- 
fuse into  their  youth  a  disgust  to  it  ever  after. 

Falk.  Next  follows  the  Lyeanthrope ;  or  violence. 

Il  Cortbg.  Among  the  Egyptians,  it  was  an  emblem  of 
the  sun,  when  arrived  at  a  parlicolar  point  of  the  zodiac  :  at 
it  stood  for  the  dog-star  Sirius, 

L 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

Falk.  Then  we  have  the  Hyaena ;  the  emblem  of  fraud. 

Il  Coetbg.  Rather  of  an  unsociable  misanthrope,  I 
should  think,  and  an  untameable  savage. 

Lady  G.  When  they  were  coloured,  as  they  were  ori^- 
nally,  it  was  easy  to  distinguish  what  wild  beast  it  was  the 
artist  intended  to  represent. 

Falk.  Then  follows  the  Panther,  the  emblem  of  trea- 
chery ;  the  Gryphon,  of  covetousness :  and  next  to  Anger, 
the  Dog,  or  sycophancy  ;  the  Dragon,  symbolical  of  envy. 

Il  Coetbg.  These  two  last  figures,  by  the  bye,  are 
usually,  at  least  anciently,  the  emblems  of  fidelity  and  wis* 
dom,  with  the  healing  art 

Falk.  After  these,  the  Deer,  stands  for  timidity;  the 
Mantichora,  for  pride ;  the  Boxers,  for  contention. 

Edgae.  It  b  plain,  these  were  not  of  the  fancy. 

Falk.  Lastly,  the  Lamia. 

IlCoeteg.  I  suppose  these  were  all  portraits  of  celebrated 
persons,  then  living,  when  this  great  artist  flourished. — 
We  know  that  artists  are  very  fond  of  putting  into  allegorical 
and  historical  paintings,  portraits  of  their  co-temporaries, 
and  patrons ;  just  as  Buonarotti  has  immortalised  the  whole 
Roman  conclave,  in  his  Last  Judgment,  placing  them  among 
the  damned.  Falk.  And  among  these  agun,  making  the 
devil  and  his  chosen  angels  the  handsomest  of  the  group. 

Mhv.  Or,  as  Charles  the  Second's  painter,  has  introduced 
the  demon  of  faction,  in  an  allegorical  painting,  under  the 
portrait  of  Lord  Shaftesbury;  and  some  unfortunate  house- 
keeper of  the  palace,  who  had  ofiended  him,  he  has  intro- 
duced as  one  of  the  furies. 

Edgae.  Or,  as  Rubens  has  somewhere  painted  himself 
as  Diogenes,  with  his  lantern,  looking  for  an  honest  man, 
in  the  midst  of  his  most  intimate  acquaintance. 

Ladt  G.  I  think  the  memory  of  Holbein  is  much  obliged 
to  those  critics  and  antiquaries,  who  have  given  out  Aut 
these  sculptures  were  from  designs  of  that  great  painter. 


MAODAUSN  COLLEGE. 

Il  Corteo.  Nor  will  the  Ck>U^e  of  Heralds  feel  them- 
selves more  flattered,  at  being  told  that  these  figures  have, 
after  all,  no  moral  meaning,  but  aie  merely  heraldic. 

Falk.  As  to  Chalmer's  reasooing,  that  the  founders  and 
heads  of  Colleges  can  never,  in  common^sense,  be  supposed 
to  have  thus  laughed  at  themselves,  or  at  one  another ;  or 
even  at  their  rivals,  puUishing  their  private  feuds,  and  all  at 
the  expense  of  public  decency,  the  answer  is :  1 .  Look  at 
the  contemporaneous  buildings  and  sculptures  at  Oxford,  and 
all  over  the  world,  to  see  whether  such  folly  Was  not  every 
day's  practice  ?  2.  If  men  had  been  always  infallible  and 
perfect ;  or  if  they  bad  had  so  mudi  discretion  as  to  hide 
their  folly  from  the  public,  rather  than  by  shewing  their  wU 
to  expose  it ;  we  should  have  bad  no  reformation. 

Il  Corteo.  In  justice,  however,  to  our  OESdipus  Magda-* 
lenensis,  we  may  pronounce  that  he  has,  like  the  elder  one 
of  Thebes,  terrass^  the  sphynx ;  and  like  him,  has  brought 
it  home,  senseless,  on  the  back  of  an  cms. 

Falx.  Magdalen  College  is  required  by  its  Statutes  to 
entertain  the  king,  and  his  eldest  son,  whenever  they  visit 
Oxford.  It  had  this  honour  paid  it  by  Edward  the  Fourth, 
who  meant  by  it  to  shew  William  of  Wainfleet,  its  founder, 
this  mark  of  personal  distinction.  William  Patten,  of  Wain- 
fleet,  had  been  the  confidential  minister  of  Henry  the  Sixth ; 
who,  upon  the  death  of  Cardinal  Beaufort,  raised  him  to  the 
see  of  Winchester,  in  which  he  remuned  39  years.  In  1456, 
he  was  Lord  Chancellor.  It  was  by  his  counsels  that  Jack 
Cade  was  put  down.  He  had  been  educated  at  Winchester, 
and  had  afrerwards  been  head-master  of  that  seminary; 
whieh  was  called  Wykeham's  school.  Eton  school  was 
finrnded  on  the  model  of  it,  by  Henry  the  Sixth;  who 
brought  Wainfleet  there  to  be  its  master.    Edward  th0 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Fourth  spared  and  protected  hixn.  He  seems  to  have  been 
a  politician^  in  the  modem  sense  of  that  word^  which  teaches 
every  man  ta  take  care  of  himself;  and  which  ever  way  the 
wind  blows,  to  spread,  or  reef,  his  suls  accordingly. 

In  1483,  the  founder  again  ushered  in  a  regal  guest,  la 
the  summer  of  that  year,  Richard  the  Third  entered  the  city 
in  great  pomp,  and  with  his  trsdn  was  lodged  at  Magdalen 
College*  Richard,  after  hearing  disputations,  as  usual,  in  the 
Hall,  gave  the  president  and  College  five  marks  for  wine^ 
with  two  bucks.  He  confirmed  all  their  privileges }  and  pro- 
cured an  act  of  parliament  for  the  free  importation  of  books. 

Henry,  Prince  of  Wales,  son  of  James  the  First,  ims 
matriculated  here  when  his  father  visited  the  University. 
Wilkinson  was  a|^inted  his  tutor.  The  prince  kept  lis 
court  in  some  rooms,  situated  at  the  north  side  of  the  qua- 
drangle, which  still  retain  the  ornamental  wainscotting  with 
which  they  were  then  furnished. 

The  livings  in  the  gift  of  the  president  and  fellows  of 
this  College,  are  said  to  be  very  numerous  and  valuable. 

Oliver  Cromwell  was  Chancellor  of  the  University  in  the 
time  of  his  Protectorate.  A  doctor's  degree  had  been  pre- 
viously conferred  on  him  ;  and  the  same,  or  some  minor 
degree,  on  one  or  two  more  of  his  officers.  The  whole  party 
were  sumptuously  entertained  in  the  hall  of  this  College. 
After  dinner,  Cromwell  and  his  jovial  companions  diverted 
themselves  with  sports  on  the  bowling-green,  while  bis 
soldiers  amused  themselves  with  destroying  the  painted 
Gothic  glass  of  the  chapel  windows.  Whether  the  subject  of 
these  panes,  represented  **  Holbein's  Dance  of  Death,''  or 
what  not,  I  forget ;  but  these  Vandals  performed  the  dance 
of  death  upon  them,  for  laying  them  fiat  on  the  ground,  and 
jumping  on  them,  they  soon  reduced  the  whole  to  atoms. 

The  water^walk  was  planted  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth ;  and 
the  founder's  oak  had  stood  600  years. 


«.     ^  . 


•^' 


mn^w  ooiiiiBaB. 


^^N^^^^^^*^*" 


Ii.  CoRTBO.  Well^  after  all  my  endeavours  to  find  out 
the  superior  merits  of  ^his  structure,  whether  as  a  whole,  or 
in  its  parts  and  ornaments,  I  find  myself  utterly  at  a  loss  to 
discover  what  could  possess  the  guides  to  make  such  a  flat- 
tering representation  of  it  1  I  came  with  every  prepossession 
in  its  fiivour  to  admire  and  to  praise  it :  but  I  cannot,  for 
the  soul  of  me,  find  occasbn  to  do  so.  In  despair^  I  give 
up  the  attempt ! 

Falk«  You  have  seen  the  picture  of  the  chapel  in 
Ackerman? — ^IlCorteg.  Yes:  the piciure  is  very  fine,  no 
doubt,  as  several  others  are  in  that  splendid  work. — ^Falk. 
It  is  agreed,  too,  on  all  hands,  that  it  is  the  finest  chapel  in 
the  pointed  style,  at  the  University. — ^II  Cortbg.  And 
therefore  it  must  be  so ! — ^Edgar.  It  may  have  been  once 
very  fine,  before  Mr.  Wyatt  new  formed  it,  or  Edward's 
visitors  had  re-formed  it. — II  Cortbg.  That  is  another  afiiiir. 
^Elf.  For  my  part,  I  prefer  the  ante-chapel,  with  its  two 
slender  stafi^-moulded  pillars, — ^Falk.  Sixty-five  feet  high  : 
that  is,  five  feet  loftier  than  the  inner  roof  of  Henry  the 
Seventh's  Chapel,  at  Westminster. — Ladt  6.  But  what 
think  you  of  this  great  picture  in  stained  glass  on  the  west 
window,  by  Jervais,  after  a  design  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  ? 
Il  Cortbg.  I  think  very  highly  of  the  upper  division  for  the 
efiect  of  its  light,  its  composition,  design,  and  expression,  as 
well  as  colouring ;  but  it  should  be  nearer  to  the  eye,  and 
it  would  be  sufficient  without  more,  both  to  engage  and 
reward  our  curiosity.  But  I  confess  I  do  not  like  those  seven 
allegorical  figures  below,  obtruding  themselves  upon  the 
attention,  to  the  prejudice  of  those  above,  so  much  more 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

four  ranges  over  the  whole  east  eud^  ornamented  witii  cano- 
pies, pinnacles,  and  tracery  of  the  richest  Gothic  character, 
&c.  Over  the  commonion-table,  in  the  wall  below  the 
niches,  are  five  compartments  of  modem  sculpture  in  alto 
relievo.  The  sculpture  attracts  attention  by  the  beaolj 
of  the  workmanship,  by  the  delicacy  and  richness  displayed 
in  the  drapery  of  the  figures." — II  Cortbg.  I  am  glad  the 
guide  has  mentioned  all  this,  and  in  strictness  it  may  be  the 
ftet.  Though  such  has  been  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Wyatt  io 
modestly  hiding  his  talent,  that  a  spectator  might  go  through 
the  chapel,  and  stand,  and  turn,  and  look  about  him  with 
anxious  curiosity,  and  yet,  without  glasses  and  a  prompter, 
he  would  observe  nothing  of  all  this  !  It  is  all  here,  for  any 
thing  I  see ;  but  so  artfully  and  skilfully  concealed,  that  it 
might  be  any  where  else— for  the  notice  of  the  observer. 

Yet,  in  point  of /oc/,  for  as  Xoeffect^  all  that  is  destroyed 
long  ago,  this  choir  is  by  measuren^enf,  100  feet  long  and 
65  high,  with  a^ood  groioed  pointed  roof  resting  on  consoles. 
So  the  cloister,  though  so  poor  and  wretched  in  its  effect, 
is,  in  point  of  facif  ample  enough;  being  146  feet  long,  and 
105  feet  broad,  by  exact  measurement. 

^*  In  a  recess,  near  the  altar,  is  preserved  the  crosier  of 
the  founder.  This  venerable  relic  of  sacerdotal  pomp  is 
seven  feet  high,  composed  of  silver  richly  gilt  and  enamelled  | 
with  shrine- work  moulding.^'  Instead  of  the  figure  of  SU 
Peter,  as  in  the  crosier  at  Corpus,  (the  details  of  which 
present  some  very  elegantly  carved  work  in  arabesque,  and 
some  exquisite  tabernacle  work,  though,  as  a  whole,  its  form 
is  not  so  classical  as  that  at  St.  John's),  instead  of  one  of 
the  apostles,  or  of  the  holy  lamb,  the  figure  of  Wykeham  is 
introduced  in  a  kneeling  posture.  This  is  no  bad  emblem, 
I  think,  of  papal  usurpation.  *'  His  gloves  and  ring,  with  some 
of  the  gM  and  precious  stones,  are  preserved  in  the  muni- 
ment room,  on  ithe  third  floor  of  a  massy  tower,  sitoate  at 


NEW  COLLEGE. 

tiie  south-east  end  of  the  Hall.    It  it  of  four  stories^  and  its 
two  upper  rooms  are  of  beantif ul  proportions/' 

Falk.  In  Cooke's  Topographical  Description  of  Oxford* 
shire  (a  book  I  like  for  its  general  neatness  and  simplicity 
of  style)^  mention  is  made  of  the  painting  in  the  hall  here  of 
the  Caracci's^  or  of  the  Bolognese  school :  the  subject  is,  the 
Shepherds'  Adoration  of  the  Infant  Saviour.  The  Virgin, 
shepherds,  and  angeh,  are  celebrating  the  Nativity  in  a  hymn. 
The  composition  and  design  are  admirable ;  while  the  strength 
and  spirit  of  the  shepherds,  are  as  finely  contrasted  by  the 
elegance  and  grace  of  the  Virgin^  and  attending  angels. 
The  style  of  the  landscape  is  likewise  great,-*-the  colouring 
full  of  life,  but  chastised  and  solemn.  Hiis  valuable  piece 
is  said  to  have  been  in  the  collection  of  Colbert,  minister  to 
Louis  the  Fourteenth. — ^II  Cortbg.  I  am  glad  of  it,  with  all 
my  heart,  provided  you  do  not  insist  upon  my  seeing  and 
believing  it,  after  the  fool  I  have  been  made  of  already. 

Falk.  The  quadrangle,  in  its  ancient  state  (before  it  was 
murdered  in  tiie  rage  of  modern  improvement),  had  two 
stories  only,  in  the  manner  of  all  the  ancient  establishments. 
In  I675,  the  east,  south,  and  west  sides,  were  modernised 
as  we  now  find  them.  The  Chapel  and  Hall  occupy  the 
noith  side  :  the  libraries,  for  there  are  two,  part  of  the  east  r 
the  wardens'  and  fellows'  lodgings  the  south  and  western 
sides.  The  justness  of  the  proportions  in  the  Hall  are  much 
admii'ed.  It  contains  the  portraits  of  the  founder ;  also  of 
Chichele,  the  founder  of  All  Souls ;  and  of  Wainfleet,  the 
founder  of  Magdalen. 

Ej>gar.  In  1605,  King  Jam^s,  his  queen,  and  the  Prince 
of  Wales,  with  a  considerable  number  of  the  nobility,  were 
sumptuously  entertained  in  this  hall.  Before  dinner,  his 
majesty  heard,  as  a  bontie  boucAe,  a  disputation ;  and  after' 
dinner,  by  way  of  dessert,  another,  together  with  an  oration ; 
well  corked,  no  doubt^  atod  full  of  fixed  air,  or  much  up  in 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

the  bottle.  A  plentiful  supper  was  then  served  up^  after 
which,  fowr  se  raasauier^  he  went  to  hear  a  plaj  wiittea 
by  Dr.  Gwynne,  when,  so  far  firom  ezpresang  impatienoe  or 
discontent  at  that  piece,  be  was  so  tickled  and  lulled  by  it, 
that  he  fell  into— -a  profound  nap. 

Another  account  is  given  of  this  part  of  hia  entertainmeDt, 
with  some  slight  variation. 

^^  Vertumnus  was  the  name  of  the  comedy  they  treated  him 
to,  penned  by  Dr.  Gwynne.  But  the  king  had  been  so  over* 
wearied  at  St.  Mary's,  that  aflter  a  while  he  distasted  it,  and 
Cell  asleep.  When  he  awaked,  he  would  have  bin  gone, 
ssjiog,  ^  I  marvel  what  they  think  me  to  be,'  with  other 
sttch  like  speeches,  visibly  shewing  his  dblike  thereof;  yet 
he  tarried  it  out  till  it  ended,  and  that  was  not  before  one 
0f  the  clock.*' 

In  a  registN  at  Oxford  there  is  this  entry :  ^^  SOtli  Angost, 
at  nine,  the  King  heard  an  oration  at  Brazen  Nose  College : 
at  All  Sooh  be  heard  another :  and  on  the  same  day,  while 
at  dinner,  he  heard  a  learned  oration ;  but  his  majesty  thought 
it  somewhat  iae  long  J* 

Ijl  Cobtbo.  Among  this  glut  of  orations,  was  one  ^  in 
good  familiar  greek.  James  beard  it,'*  as  the  book  sq^, 
''  most  willingly ;''  but  the  queen  was  delighted,  ^<  because," 
she  said,  ^^  uhe  had  never  heard  Oreek  before.** 

The  name  of  another  (comedy,  I  suppose),  was  Alba, 
^  whereof,''  adds  the  writer,  *'  I  never  saw  reason."  Or 
rhyme  either,  I  believe.  The  epeetators  certainly  could  see  in 
it  neither  rhyme  nor  reason.  The  entertainment,  upon  the 
whole,  was  so  tedious,  that  if  the  Chancellon  of  botli  Univer- 
sities bad  not  entreated  his  Majesty  earnestly,  be  would 
have  gone  awaiif  m  the  middle  of  ii.  Upon  which  a  well- 
known  epigram  was  made* 

B»t  they  fbuffid  him  quite  uananageable  at  the  tragedy 
of  /^x  Flagellifer,  *^  where  the  king,  already  wearied  out 


NEW  COLLBGB. 

before  he  came  ihithear^  but  much  more  so  by  it,  could  not 
refrain  from  speaking  many  words  of  dislike/' 

Edoae.  At  the  Philosophy  Acts  (another  kind  of  play], 
Mr.  Baskerville  having,  after  twenty  syllogisms,  been  cut 
o^by  the  Proctor  (the  devil's  advocate),  who  stood  close  by 
with  the  sheers  of  fate,  the  King  interfered,  by  saying, 
^'  tmrno  vera  procedai  hie ;"  so  he  disputed  over  again,  and 
▼ery  wisely  so  managed  it,  that  at  last  King  James  himself 
cut  him  off.  The  king  (somewhat  elated  no  doubt  at  his 
own  im>wess),  said  afterwards  to  the  nobles  about  him, 
<^  God  keep  this  fellow  in  a  right  course ;  he  is  the  best 
disputer  I  ever  heard  :  he  would  prove  a  dangerous  heretic." 

1l  Cortbo.  a  manoscript,  the  books  say,  is  here  shewn, 
wherein  a  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  only  damns  whoever  shall 
obliterate  a  little  memorandum  of  his  on  one  of  the  leaves  or 
cover,  ''  addressed  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  whereas 
doubts  have  arisen  whether  the  manuscripi  is  honestly  his  z-^— 
if  a  can  be  proved  it  is  not,  then  he  begs  to  be  considered 
as  having  vaed  it  merely  as  a  thing  he  has  borrowed,"  (taking 
Freuch  leave,  you  will  observe) ;  "  but  otherwise,  then  he 
makes  a  present  of  it  to  this  College,"  &c. 

Falk.  If  you  would  really  admire  William  of  Winches- 
ter's College,  you  must  go  to  Winchester. — ^II  Corteg.  I 
believe  so,  indeed :  to  admire,  while  viewing  it,  present  be- 
fore your  eyes,  and  large  as  life^  a  man  must  draw  a  good 
deal  upon  his  imagination,  I  think.r— Falk.  William  of  Win- 
chester was  a  great  statesman,  like  the  founder  of  the  last 
College,  William  of  Wainfleet.  But  he  was  also  something 
besides,  he  was  a  great  .architect;  for  he  planned  Win- 
chester Cathedral,  and  Windsor  (Sastle.  He  rose  to  be 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  to  fill  the  highest  offices  in  the 
state.  Froissart  says,  '^  nothing  was  done  without  him  at 
court."  He  was  in  disgrace  during  the  latter  years  of  Ed- 
ward III.  whose  vicious  courses  he  did  not  (or  could  not). 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

ttop :  and  also  during  the  first  years  of  Richaid  the  Second, 
whom  he  could  aot  put  itito  good  courses. — Edoab.  But  td 
be  in  disgrace  dniiog  such  timesj  is  the  highest  eulogy. — 
Ladt  G.  No  doubt  it  is. 

Falk.  Bishop  Lowth,  who  was  of  this  College,  states 
well  the  grand  aod  comprehensive  scheme  of  education  pro- 
posed by  Wyfceham,  in  his  Winchester  foundation.  He 
meant  it  to  be  a  nursery  to  this  College ;  which  has  the 
peculiar  privilege  of  conferriog  degrees,  iodependent  of  the 
University  at  hirge,  and  without  subjectiDg  the  candidate  to 
any  eiaminations  out  of  its  own  walls,  in  the  public  sdwols. 
— Il  Cobteg.  So  that,  in  truth,  it  is  a  University  of  itself. 

Falk.  Chichele,  (the  founder  of  All  Souls,  the  next  we 
shall  take  in  our  course  of  visits  here),  was  of  this  College^ — 
Il  Cortbg.  Also  Sir  Henry  Sydney,  father  of  Sir  Philip,  the 
paragon  of  courts  in  that,  or  perhaps  any,  age. — Falk.  Add 
to  these  the  learned  and  unfortunate  Lydiat;  the  poets 
Somerville  and  Pitt ;  Grocyn,  one  of  the  revivers  of  leaning; 
Turner,  one  of  the  seven  bishops ;  and  Philpot,  the  imr^. 


ALL     -i&r-LR    rOlULEGE. 


.'•V 


«•  •,  -^ 


•    s      ^J 


.  H-  . 


\ 


>  t 


I  ^     . '"    »  » 


•  •       1.       •  .• 


\> 


•   li  t!  0  I-- 


u 


Laot  G.  This^  indeed^  is  in  the  sober  cuiuaci^v.  .    u 
christian  tempk.    How  subdued  the  light  b  in  this  holy 


Alili  BOUIiS'  OOIiIiBOa 


^><^>^'^^^^>^ 


Edgar.  Wb  need  not  ask  to  what  College  belongs  this 
spacious  and  gorgeous  quadrangle^  with  long  ranges  of 
pointed  windows^  having  slender  graduated  buttresses  be- 
tween, terminated  with  lofty  pinnacles.  And  which^  only 
that  they  are  adorned  with  crockets^  resemble  those  slender 
obelisks  of  ice  in  the  Glaciers,  called  the  Needles  ? 

Ii.  CoRTBG.  No,  this  can  belong  only  to  All  Souls  :  and 
this  quadrangle  extorted  from  Horace  Walpole,  this  flippant 
praise,  (in  his  French  way),  '^  that  the  architect  here  had 
blundered  into  a  picturesque  scenery,  not  devoid  of  grandeur/' 
— Lady  G.  The  critic  there,  I  understand,  made  a  blunder 
himself,  as  to  who  the  architect  was  ?  Horace  Walpole,  how- 
ever, with  all  his  flippant  excentridties,  which  he  mistook  for 
genius,  never  blundered  into  taste.    Though  gracing  the  list 
of  royal  and  noble  authors,  it  is  inconceivable  how  he  could 
always  speak  and  write  so  ignobly. — ^II  Coetbg.  In  justice 
to  hb  memory,  we  must  allow  he  had  a  wonderful  alacrity  at 
sinking. 

Falk.  This  court  is  in  length,  from  N.N.W.  to  S.S.E. 
about  172  feet :  and  in  breadth,  155  feet.  It  comprises  a 
Library  towards  the  north,  and  the  Hall  and  Chapel  towards 
the  soxAh.  On  the  west  you  observe  a  portico,  with  Roman 
arches,  upon  piers  decked  with  classic  pilasters.  That,  and 
the  gateway  having  a  cupola  or  diadem  point,  is  by  Wren. 
The  common-room,  with  other  handsome  apartments,  stand 
on  the  east,  where  you  observe  those  two  noble  towers  in  the 
pointed  style.    Let  us  go  into  the  Chapel. 

Laot  G.  This,  indeed,  is  in  the  sober  character  of  a 
christian  temple.    How  subdued  the  light  is  in  this  holy 


1 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

place  1  What  an  expression  of  religious  calm^  as  upon  a  sab- 
sided  tempest;  and  with  a  solemn  heaving  of  the  waves,  as 
hushed,  but  not  quite  still.  Yetj  how  cheerful,  announcing 
peace  and  syoshine  to  a  world  shook,  but  one  moment  be- 
fore, as  with  a  whirlwind.  Surely,  such  a  result  in  aichitec- 
tare  is  fortuitous :  for  though  k  should  be  in  the  intention, 
it  is  so  seldom  in  the  mind  or  skill  of  the  architect  to  pio- 
duce  an  efiect,  which  is  altogether  unique. — ^II  Cobtk. 
That  picture,  too,  over  the  altar,  by  Raphael  Mengs,  happens 
to  be  in  the  tone  of  the  Chapel  itself;  or  perhaps  contribntes 
indirectly  to  the  effect. — ^Edoar.  Dignity,  and  divine  bene- 
tolence  are  in  the  figure  of  our  Saviour,  which  has  the  soft- 
ness of  some  spirit,  not  of  this  world :  while  ecstacy  and 
adoration  start  out  of  the  figure  and  countenance  of  Mary. — 
II  Coatbg.  Withoot  acknowledging  that  mixture  of  eaaotions 
incxmpatible  with  each  other,  at  one  and  the  same  moment, 
(obaerved,  or  rather  fancied,  by  some  travellers)  we  may  ny 
of  the  countenance  of  Mary,  there  beams  a  joy,  mixed  with 
adionishment  on  that  lovely  feoe  which  had  so  hilely  been 
convulsed  and  racked  with  grief,  and  flooded  with  tears. 

Falk*  This  Chapd  is  seventy  feet  in  length,  and  thirty  m 
breadth ;  and  though  in  the  pointed  style.  Wren  has  divided 
it  by  a  Pagan  screen,  from  its  ante-chapel :  which  is  of  the 
same  dimensions. — II  Cobtbo.  But  what  chubby  idol  is  this 
in  a  sitting  posture  ?  I  think  it  would  be  a  fitter  piece  of 
furniture  for  the  Middle  Temple  dining-hall? — Faul.  I 
wish,  for  my  part,  it  were  cited  before  Westminster  Hall. 
*-^L  CoRTBG.  Is  there  any  enigmatical  meaning  in  the 
sculptor,  placing  the  authors  darling  commentaries  in  his 
right  hand,  and  the  Magna  Charta  in  his  left,  while  smiling 
in  well-ummged  robes  and  full  bottomed  wig,  in  the  midst 
of  sepulchral  inscriptions  ?  One  would  think  he  was  a  phy- 
aician^— his  look  is  sufficiently  doctorial  to  pass  fm  one.— 
FAJbK*  He  was  a  doctor  in  the  law.    We  must  not  inquire 


cHArmt. 


>     t 


'       .     I    .   . 


.  -    .  I :. 


-..:hc  I 


FaipK.  He  was  a  doctor  in  the  law.    We  most  not  inquire 


CWAIPEIL. 


A. 


*. 


a  ,/.J.  ?i&, 


ABABB.   TPJPOBEM.  OiaM.  MATRJ.  DEVM. 
HTf.  XEMPLO.    S.    COfinNTHl.  COrtSECatATIIM. 

fV,STt)U],    fOUL.  DMH.AISJM, 

A>~'r(jr'.   I.n5>'j5ay,  at!>:t.  mdtc.  Lvtn. 


..      It  Js 


»    ;,. 


■  I 
> .  % 


•:\   ry:- 


expressiou  ui  svua^  «/«   i.>.w 

the  colour  is  vivid  :  those  of  Henry  the  Sixtii^  -and  of  Arch- 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

bishop  Chichele^  foander,  arc  coeval  with  the  Colk^re,  and 
have  been  cagravcd  by  Bartolozzi  5  those  of  Alfred  and 
AthelstaOj  are  engraved  in  Spelman ;  and  that  of  John  of 
Gaunt,  in  Carter's  Specimens.  Though  the  outside  of  the 
library  b  in  the  pdnted  style,  the  inade  is  after  the  Doric 
and  Ionic  orders.  This  magnificent  room  was  twenty  years 
baildmg,  at  a  cost  (including,  1  suppose,  some  stock  bcx>ks), 
of  more  than  jf"!  2,000.  The  first  stone  was  laid  by  the 
author  of  the  Night  Thoughts. 

Il  Cobtjbg.  It  is  time  now  to  go  into  the  Hall ;  for  as  to 
the  kitchen  and  buttery,  we  will  leave  to  the  lickorish  guides 
and  connobseurs,  the  undisturbed  enjoyment  of  these  br 
vourite  subjects  of  their  muse. 

Labt  G.  This  refectory,  however,  is  a  noble  room  of 
excellent  proportions. — -^lf.  Tell  me  what  old  man  is  that, 
of  emaciated  countenance,  furrowed  with  wrinkles,  and  appa- 
rently of  a  melancholy  temperament  ? — Falml.  Alas !  he  never 
lived  to  be  old,  and  he  was  of  a  sanguine  temperament,  that 
was  disappointed  of  patronage:  it  is  the  bust  of  Leland, 
the  antiquary  and  celebrated  itinerary,  formerly  of  this  Col- 
lege. He  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine.  Hb  story  b  pathe- 
tically told  by  Mr.  Biewer,  in  the  Beauties  of  England  aod 
Wales.  *^  Leland  was  one  of  the  most  laborious  scholars  of 
that  sra.  Under  the  patronage  of  Henry  Vm.  he  applied 
to  antiquities  and  topography  :  he  used  generously  to  boast, 
that  he  would,  on  such  subjects,  ally  the  graces  of  the  pen 
to  those  of  the  pencil.  But  Henry  dying,  Lehmd  became 
neglected ;  and  hb  accomplished  mind,  when  no  friendly 
band  was  nigh  to  lend  support,  sunk  under  its  own  weight 
into  rums.  Hb  library,  now  evinced  the  disorder  of  his 
thoughts :  the  volumes  he  had  collected  and  arranged  with 
so  much  care  itnd  labour,  were  scattered  promiscuously  on 
the  floor.  At  length  hb  undentanding  itself  became  irre- 
coverably deranged.  In  this  bust,  so  strongly  marked  are  the 


ALL  SOULS*  COLLEGE. 

featares  of  premature  old  age,  that  Granger  is  positive  the 
bust  is  supposititious. — ^Ladt  G.  But  as  D^radi  has  well 
observed,  *^  in  this.  Granger  did  not  look  with  the  eye  of  a 
pbysiognomist.  It  is  the  havoc  of  mind,  and  not  of  age, 
that  has  transformed  the  countenance  of  Leland/' 

Falk.  (Answering  a  question  put  to  him  by  Edgar), 
Iieland  was  library  keeper  to  Henry  VIII.  in  the  twenty- 
fifth  year  of  his  reign ;  and  received  a  commission  under  the 
great  seal  with  similar,  or  more  extensive,  powers  than  those 
given  to  our  Commissioners  of  the  Public  Records.  Under 
this  commission,  he  carried  on  his  travels  through  most  parts 
of  England  and  Wales,  of  which  he  kept  a  journal,  which  he 
called  his  Itinerary ;  but  he  extended  his  curiosity  to  monu- 
ments, including  in  his  inquiries  the  subjects  of  research 
which  occupy  the^  Society  of  Antiquaries.  After  his  death. 
Sir  John  Cheke  obtained  most  of  his  papers ;  and  they  are 
now  divided  equally  between  the  British  Museum  and  the 
Bodleian. 

Il  Cortjbg.  But  we  have  there  a  happier  subject  in  Lord 
Chancellor  Talbot,  himself  deserving  of  all  patronage,  which 
having  met  with,  he  showered  down  upon  others  alike  de- 
serving, and  in  want  of  it.  He  was  not  only  a  great  lawyer, 
but  what  is  more,  he  was  a  great  man,  and  as  good  and  amia- 
ble  as  he  was  great,  and  of  a  noble  origin.  He  was  the  patron 
of  Bishop  Bundle,  one  of  those  kindred  souls  which  real 
greatness  attracts  ever  around  it. 

They  have  on  the  rolls  of  this  College,  the  name  of  the 
celebrated  Linacre,  who  first  revived  the  study  of  the  Gre- 
cian language  in  the  schools  of  England ;  as  of  Wren,  who 
fixed,  if  he  did  not  revive,  the  Grecian  architecture  in^  our 
churches.  Archbishop  Sheldon  and  Sydenham  ;  Trumbull, 
the  friend  of  Pope,  ■  though  a  statesman.  Shall  I  name  the 
sceptic  Tindal  as  the  glory  o(  the  shame  of  All  Souls  ?  It 
is  now  redeemed  however  by  Blackstone. — ^Edgaa.  The  palm 

M 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

here^  indeed^t  is  divided  between  this  College  and  that  of 
Pembroke. 

Keble^  the  law  reporter^  was  of  All  Souls.  Though  he 
was  never  known  to  have  made  a  motion  in  the  courts,  nor 
to  have  had  a  brief,  the  cacoethes  of  reporting  was  so  strong 
upon  him,  that  he  reported,  without  mercy,  all  the  cases  in 
the  King's  Bench  from  1661  to  1710;  nor  would  he  have 
stopped  there  but — ^for  death.  He  left  behind  him,  not- 
withstanding, no  less  than  4000  manuscript  sermons,  every 
one  of  which  he  had  preached,  after  writing  them  out,  at 
Gray's  Inn  Chapel.  His  MSS.  folios  and  quartos  amounted 
to  150. 

Dr.  Jeremy  Taylor,  Bbhop  of  Down  and  Connor,  was 
nominated  by  Archbishop  Laud  a  fellow  of  this  College  in 
1636.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  such  a  man  is  an  oma* 
ment  to  any  College. — Edgab.  But  no  vmament  to  any 
College  can  make  compensation  for  the  mischief  done  to  its 
strength  and  constitution,  by  any  arbitrary  act  contrary  to  its 
statutes.  This  was  the  crying  grievance  of  those  days  of  in- 
fatuation and  evil  counsels.  Dr.  Taylor  was  doubly  unquali- 
fied : — ^to  be  eligible  by  the  statutes,  he  was  too  old\  and  he 
was  too  young  in  standing. 

We  have  now  sufficiently  contemplated  the  large  qua- 
drangle ;  but  there  are  two  smaller  ones,  with  their  several 
gateways  of  different  size  and  decorations,  opening  into  High 
Street. 

Il  Cobtbg.  We  will,  if  you  please,  view  these  ^'  in  the 
mind's  eye,"  rather  as  they  were  than  as  they  are.  This  front, 
according  to  Brewer,  was  originally  194  feet  in  length,  with 
three  very  fine  bay  windows,  surmounted  by  an  embattlement 
to  the  extent  of  its  entire  length,  with  well  carved  heads  and 
grotesque  spouts,  as  at  Magdalen  and  St.  John's.  The  only 
tower  now  left  is  that  over  the  chief  entrance,  nearly  un- 
touched by  any  devastating  hand,  save  thatof  time.<— LadtG. 


ALL  SOULS'  COLLBGS. 

Those  two  large  statues  in  niches  over  the  doorway,  are 
vrell  sculptured.— -Falk.  They  are  the  statues  of  Henry  VI. 
and  Archbishop  Chichele. — ^Ladt  G.  I  think,  however,  the 
interior  of  this  second  court  has  a  venerable  air, — ^a  certain 
antique  dignity,  and,  if  I  may  use  the  expression,  that  College- 
grace  to.be  observed,  jnore  or  less,  in  several  of  the  older 
buildings.  That  part  of  the  chapel  is  particularly  striking.—* 
Falk.  Observe  Wren's  sun*dial ;  it  has  one  whole  and  two 
half  rays  for  the  greater  divisions  of  the  hour,  and  the 
minutes,  fifteen  in  number,  are  marked  on  each  side  of  the 
lays.  The  dimensions  of  this  court  are  124  by  seventy- 
two  feet.  We  have  now  only  to  pass  through  this  passage 
on  the  east,  which  leads  to  the  last  and  smallest  court  of  all. 
JElv.  The  sweetly  retired  character  of  this  court  is  parti- 
cularly pleasing, — ^Falk.  Those  pointed  windows  and  gra- 
duated buttresses  belong  to  the  hall. 

Lady  6.  It  is  but  common  courtesy,  before  we  take  our 
leave  of  this  noble  structure,  to  ask  some  particulars  respecting 
its  founder  ? 

Falk.  Archbishop  Chichele  founded  this  College  in 
14375  during  the  reign  of  Heniy  VI. :  though,  by  his  oiBce 
of  archbishop  he  was  in  that  age  doomed  on  one  hand  to 
oppose  the  usurpations  of  the  popes,  and  also  to  oppose  the 
progress  of  the  reformers  on  the  other,  he  performed  this 
irksome  duty  with  so  irreproachable  a  temper,  that  even  the 
martyrologist  Fox  (whom  no  fault  could  escape),  has  been 
able  to  allege  nothing  against  him.  He  declined  the  ofier 
of  a  cardinal's  hat :  and  was  much  employed  on  foreign  nego- 
ciations  ;  also  at  home  in  affitirs  of  state  and  legislation.  In 
the  council  of  Pisa,  1409,  he  was  representative  of  England, 
He  was  bom  at  Higham  Ferrers,  Northamptonshire ;  was 
educated  at  Winchester  School,  and  of  course  proceeded 
afterwards  to  New  College.  He  procured  from  Henry  VI.  a 
grant  of  the  lands  and  revenues  of  some  dissolved  priories, 

m2 


DIALOGUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

to  endow  this  College :  he  gave  it  alao  several  of  his  own 
muore^  &C.  He  founded  besides  the  Hospital  of  SL  Ber- 
nardj  since  ccmverted  into  the  College  of  St.  John ;  and 
dying  in  1443,  was  buried  in  the  choir  of  his  own  Cathedial  at 
Canterbury.  There  is  every  appeanmce  that  he  was  an 
eminent  politician  ;  a  wise  and  good,  indeed  every  way,  a 
great  man. 

By  directing  the  ambition  of  Henry  V.  agunst  France, 
he  saved  far  thai  time  the  revenues  of  the  chmxrh,  which 
Ptfliament  had  recommended  to  the  King  io  be  gradousfy 
pleaaed  to  accept. — ^All  the  alien  priories,  or  cells  to  foreign 
monasteries,  with  their  lands  and  revenues,  were  given  by 
IVirliament  to  the  King ;  but  the  greater  part  were  still  con- 
tinned  to  sacred  uses,  being  bestowed  on  the  national  monas- 
teries and  collies. 

Il  Cortxg.  I  have  heard  of  one  curious  embarrassment 
arising  from  the  directions  in  his  statutes,  to  prefer  in  elections 
those  persons,  vriio  shall  prove  themselves  of  his  blood  and 
kindred.  It  appears,  that  upwards  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  familes  of  tiie  English,  and  more  than  fifty  or  sixty 
of  the  Scottish  and  Irish  peerages,  with  one  hundred  and 
thirty  of  the  En^ish  baronetage,  can,  upon  undoubted  re- 
cords, prove  themselves  to  be  descended  from  tiie  same 
stock  with  Henry  Chichele,  the  founder  of  All  Souls.  He 
procured  an  extensive  charter  from  Heniy  VI.  who  is  called 
pro  forma  the  founder;  but  Chichele  reserved  all  the  exercise 
of  authority  in  his  own  hands. 


CBBIBT    OHURCB    OOIiIiBaS. 

PART  I.— GoTnic  Divisrox. 


Falk.  In  the  magnificent  front  and  quadnngle  of  this 
College,  we  have  a  monument  of  the  aspiring  genias  of 
Wolsey.  This  edifice  has  a  legantine  and  almost  regal 
grandeur  of  manner,  announcing  the  first  intention  of  its 
founder,  who  was  ambitious  of  making  it  the  greatest  es- 
tablishment of  the  kind  in  Europe.  Even  in  that  part  (the 
least  noble  of  the  structure  which  he  lived  to  finish),  the 
kitchen,  we  may  form  some  idea  of  the  splendour,  the  fes- 
tivity, and  lordly  hospitality  of  that  day. 

Ix.  CoRTBG.  And  of  lordly  devastation  too,  if  we  consider 
the  number  of  monasteries,  priories,  &c.  that  were  laid 
prostrate,  (and  others  intended  to  be  laid  prostrate),  to  make 
room  for  the  Cardinal's  foundation.  Lord  Herbert,  of  Cher- 
bury,  suggests,  that  as  Wolsey  applied  for  the  dissolution  of 
(what  he  called)  small  and  superfluous  houses,  Henry  the 
Eighth  might  not  dislike  this  as  a  fair  experiment,  how  far 
the  general  dissolution  might  be  relished.  On  occasion  of 
translating  the  see  of  Oxford  from  Oseney  to  St.  Frideswides, 
the  king  ordered  the  former  to  be  pulled  down,  and  scarce 
a  vestige  u  now  remaining  of,  what  were  once,  the  most  mag- 
nificent diurch,  and  series  of  ecclesiastical  buildings,  in 
Europe,  richly  furnished  beyond  any  in  the  kingdom  cer- 
tainly«  and  the  object  of  admiration  to  all  who  visited  them. 
The  riches  of  that  see  were,  doubtlessly,  the  cause  of  its 
destruction.  Wolsey's  College  occupies  the  site,  on  which 
formerly  stood  the  Priory  of  St.  Frideswide. 

Falk.  This  front  extends  382  feet  along  this  eastern 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

side  of  the  street.— Ladt  G.  Tlie  best  views  of  it  I  have 
seen  are  in  Ackerman^  or  Skeltou's  plates^  and  in  those  of 
Hollis.— JSlf.  And  you  may  remember^  you  thought,  with 
me,  that  the  best  view  of  the  gateway-tower  (in  the  centre), 
is  in  Ackerman's  Views,  taken  from  Pembroke  College- 
gate.-7-EDGAR.  These  pictures  of  the  front  agree  with  the 
original,  and,  also,  with  the  descriptions,  l^kere  are  the 
double  semi*hexagon«l  turrets  at  each  extremity,  downed 
with  balustrades,  that  border  the  whole  summit  of  the 
tkonU  on  each  side  of  the  portal  is  a  single  octagonal  tower, 
with  a  coronal  (or  ogee),  cupola,  while  the  portal  itself 
supports  a  single  tower  of  the  same  form,  but  of  bi 
larger  proportions,  surmounted  (as  those),  with  its  coronal 
cupola.  It  has  a  pointed  window  on  eadi  of  its  eight  sides. 
Over  these  are  crocheted  coronal  canopies;  and  between 
them  are  square  projecting  pilasters,  terminated  with  knotted 
pinnacles.  Along  the  intervening  spaces  of  the  front,  two 
tiers  of  Gothic  windows  are  displayed.*^lL  Cortbo.  If,  in- 
stead of  modem  balustrades,  its  parapet  had  been  in  the 
pointed  style,  or  castellated,  the  whole  would  have  had  a 
cUgnity,  or  even  a  majesty,  not  inferior  to  any «— even  Windsor 
Castle  itself  not  excepted* 

FaUc.  This  quadrangle  is  nearly  a  square  of  261  feet  by 
5364. — Ladv  G.  It  is  wortfiy  of  the  front,  and  realises  the  ex- 
pectation excited  by  it.  It  has,  I  see,  the  same  fault  in  its 
modem  balustrades ;  but  the  whole  has  a  venerable  and  sim* 
pie  graadeur.<-^Ii«  Coaxse.  Vast,  however,  as  this  quadraogle 
is^  its  grand  effect  is  owing  not  to  its  size  merely.  I  know  of  a 
much  larger  square,  neaiiy  a  mile  in  circuit  (as  huge  as  Christ 
Church  meadows),  which  has  no  grandeur :  size  is,  perhaps, 
necessary  to  grandeur,  but  what  are  at  least  equally  essential, 
are  proportion,  simplicity,  and  unity.-— Falk.  The  western 
side  is  inhabited  by  the  students  :  the  eastern  and  northern 


CHRIST  CHURCH  COLLBOE.— Paat  I. 

(with  that  part  of  the  southern  side  not  occapied  by  the  hall)) 
are  inhabited  by  the  dean  and  canons. 

Falk.  Posing  through  the  arch^  over  which  Wolsey's 
statue  is  pkced  (having  the  right  side  of  the  face  turned 
fipom  the  spectator,  to  conceal  the  loss  of  his  right  eye),  we 
find  ourselves  within  a  porch,  or  vestibule,  from  whence 
these  flights  of  steps  lead  in  different  directions  to  the  clois- 
ters,— to  the  court  of  the  grammar-school, — and  t6  the  hall. 
The  roof  of  this  porch,  which  is  ornamented  with  a  profusion 
of  exquisite  tracery,  arranged  in  circles,  and  of  fan  or 
bracket-work,  is  apparently  sustained  by  a  single  clustered 
coluitan,  of  the  most  delicate  proportions.— Il  Cortbg.  In 
that  case,  the  pillar  might  be  cut  away  without  the  roof 
falling :  it  has  been  well  suggested,  too,  that  the  staircase 
should  have  been  carried  round  the  walls,  leaving  an  open 
area  in  the  centre.— Falk.  The  porch  is  lighted  by  win- 
dows of  that  obtusely  pointed  description,  which,  it  is  said, 
are  generally  found  in  buildings  of  the  Tudor,  or  the  latest 
English,  style. 

Il  Cortjbg.  The  hall  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  refectories  in  the  kingdom. — ^Edgar.  Though 
it  is  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  longer  than  that  of  the  Middle 
Temple,  it  is  twenty  feet  narrower,  and  eertainly  not  loftier. 
Il  Cortbg.  The  latter,  therefore,  not  only  contidns  a  greater 
number  of  square  and  cubic  feet,  but  is  better  proportioned. 

Falk.  This  hall  has  ample  and  elegantly-pointed  win- 
dows, especially  that  extremely  light  one  in  a  recess,  near 
this  south-west  comer  of  the  room — a  wainscotting  of  oak, 
a  lofty  oaken  roof,  enriched  with  a  profusion  of  carvings, 
perforations,  and  pendants,  interspersed  with  gilding. — Ladt 
G.  The  east  window  in  the  manner  of,  what  Mr.  Brewer, 
I  believe,  calls,  the  intersected  Gothic,  is  considered  to  be 
very  fine«— Falk.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  room,  that  ele- 
vated flooring,  ascended  by  three  steps,  is  called  a  dais. 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

semi^circalar  arches.  In  the  noithem  transept  we  still  -find 
the  Saxon  style  prevalent,  mixed  with  various  Norman  ahe^ 
rations  and  additiooa.  The  ceiling  of  the  choir,  which  is 
universally  admired,  is  generally  said  to  have  been  put  up  by 
Wolsey  ;  but,  according  to  some,  by  Bishop  King,  the  first 
I^elate  who  wore  the  Oxonian  mitre,  and  the  last  Abbot,  as 
well  as  the  only  Bishop,  of  Osney. 

The  Chapter-house  (which  we  cannot  visit  now)  is  an 
exceedingly  fine  room,  havii:^  very  elegant  groin-work  in  its. 
roof.  It  is  referred  to  the  age  of  Henry  III.  The  entrance 
is  iu,  what  is  called,  the  Saxon  style*  It  is  decorated  with 
many  ancient  and  modem  portraits  of  great  value.  Ladt  G. 
This  may  be  said  equally  of  the  chapel— 'Which  noble  room 
is  thought  to  have  been  built  in  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Third. 

Il  Cortbg.  The  Liturgy  in  Latin  is  read  in  that  chapel  ? 

Falk.  But  it  is  to  an  audience,  every  one  of  whom  is* 
presumed  to  know  that  language— -and  even  to  speak  it. 

Edgar.  Which  removes  any  objection  to  the  practice. 
Falk.  The  entrance  to  the  chapel  is  by  the  eastern  cloister* 

This  Cathedral  has  the  usual  appurtenances  in  all  their 
varieties  and  degrees  of  painted  windows  or  stained  glass, 
coats  of  arms,  inscriptions,  and  tombs.  In  the  doimitory, 
an  aisle  on  the  north  side  of  the  choir,  is  the  tomb  of  St.  Fri- 
deswide,  who  died  in  7^*  It  is  of  the  ahar  kind,  and  sup<- 
ports  a  lofty  shrine,  superbly  adorned  with  pinnacles  and 
tracery — Behind  the  shrine  was  constructed  a  small  oratory, 
the  deep-worn  steps  of  which,  shew  how  much  it  was 
resorted  to.  Lady  Eliz.  Montacute's  tomb,  also  is  here. 
Her  effigy  at  full  length,  splendidly  apparelled  in  the  cos- 
tume of  the  times,  is  recumbent  on  it*  Also  Sir  Henry 
Bathe,  justiciary,  it  u  thought,  of  England  in  1252. 

Il  Cortbg.  I  understand  there  has  been  much  contro- 
versy about  St.  Frideswide's  bones-^for  they  had  been  treated 
with  as  little  ceremony  as  the  painted  glass  which  gave  her 


CHRIST  CHURCH  COLLBQB.— Part  I. 

history  ?— Falk.  There  was  a  oonteDtion  not  only  about  the 
history,  and  the  bones,  bat  even  as  to  the  identity  of  the 
tomb.  An  ejectment  was  brought  upon  the  title* — It. 
CoRTBO.  And  Anthony  k  Wood  seems  charitably  inclined  to 
damn  all  those  who  doubt  their  identity,  or  the  validity  of 
the  title  Ae  sets  up  in  defence. 

Her  shrine  having  been  first  defaced,  then  nearly  des- 
troyed, and  afterwards  burnt — ^it  was,  of  course,  not  easily 
distinguishable  in  1480,  nearly  300  years  after.  It  appeared 
then,  however,  910^  exactly  m  the  place  where  it  used  to  ie— 
in  what  other  spot  I  forget.  Of  course,  it  wroagfat  a  world 
of  miracles.  In  1289,  she  got  a  new  set  of  bones,  as  well 
as  a  new  house,  (or  shrine  :)  with-  rich  offerings  by  votaries 
who  entertained  no  controversy  nor  doubt  about  her  identity. 
Which  offerings  Henry  VIIL  with  as  little  controversy  or 
doubt,  (being  a  great  theologian)  recognised  at  once,  and 
made  no  bone$  of,  but  seized  in  pios  ueus.  He  was  not 
tempted  to  seize  also  St.  Frideswide's  bones  \  these  remained, 
and  lasted  even  down  to  Elizabeth's  days.  In  Edward  the 
Sixth's  time,  the  renowned  Peter  Martyr's  wife,  who  resided 
with  her  husband  here,  died ;  but  in  Queen  Mary's  reign 
was  notwithstanding  summoned  to  appear — and  was  tried  for 
her  life,  on  a  charge  of  heresy**— of  which  being  convicted, 
she  was  reburied  under  a  dunghill.  In  1561,  temp.  Eliz. 
Mrs.  Peter  Martyr  was  again  disinterred,  and  her  remains 
confused  well  with  the  bones  of  St.  Frideswide.  The  whole 
compost  was  lodged  then  in  silk  bags;  they  were  shook 
together  after  having  been  previously  well  stirred  up  for  the 
very  purpose  of  rendering  them  for  ever  after  undistinguish- 
able,  by  any  person  that  b  of  common  sense*— and  were 
finally  buried  in  Mrs.  Martyr's  grave.  Fresh  doubts  how- 
ever have  been  raised  whether,  after  all,  these  relics  were 
buried  in  her's  or  St.  Frideswide's  grave  ?  ^^Et  adhuc  sub 
judiee  lis  est/* 


DlAkOOUe  DPON  OXFORD. 

The  qoadnngle  had  i  aUtue  of  Mercuiy  till  aboot  two 
yean  ago,  wbea  in  a  frolic,  a  few  students,  tired  of  Au 
wonhip,  tlirew  a  long  cable  luund  hit  oeck,  and  after  bow- 
atiinging  him,  dragged  him  from  his  tribune. — Edgar.  1 
suppose  these  must  have  been  some  followers  of  the  sect  of 
IconoclattM  ? — II  Cobtbg.  I  wish  they  had  discharged  their 
xeai  agairut  imaget,  upon  those  thirteen  idols  wbicb  an 
posted  round  the  theatre. — Eoeui.  They  are  a  standing 
nuisance — fit  only  for  an  Indian  temple  or  Chinese  pagoda. 
JElm.  They  have  the  features  and  proporUon  of  the  idols  of 
the  South  Sea. — II  Cobtbg.  I  wish  they  were  serred  as  the 
Pagans  usually  served. their  wooden  godi,  whenever  they 
were  angry  with  them. — Ladt  G.  How  was  that  ? — Ii. 
CoBTBO.  They  knocked  them  on  the  head,  agreeably  to  the 
method  of  the  IcoDoclasts  above-mentioned. 


OBBI8T  OBUROB  OOIiLBaS. 

PART  II.— Classical  Divmion. 


Il  Corteg.  We  have  now  viewed  the  Univenity  of  Ox<* 
ford  in  its  Gothic  style — as  well  as  in  its  English^  its  castel- 
latedy  and  pointed  one.  It  remains  to  view  it  in  its  classic 
character. 

Falk.  Of  Peckwater  quadrangle,  three  sides  are  of  the 
Ionic  order,  and  the  remaining  side  of  the  Corinthian.  This 
side  however  is  detached  entirely  from  the  rest*  The  Ionic 
is  itaised  on  a  rustic  basement.  Six  three-quarter  columns 
support  a  pediment  advanced  somewhat  before  the  lateral 
ranges ;  each  of  which  has  five  Ionic  pilastei^,  supporting 
an  entablature  and  balustrade*  The  three  sides  containing 
fifteen  windows  in  each  tier,  are  uniform,  and  are  three 
stories  high — these  contain  apartments  for  students* 

The  fourth  side  contains  the  gallery  of  pictures  below,  and 
the  library  in  an  upper  story.  The  front,  of  1 50  feet  in  length, 
is  raised  on  a  shelving  terrace  instead  of  steps,  and  is  held 
up  by  noble  three-quarter  Corinthian  columns — not  fluted, 
as  you  observe,  but  of  the  most  elegantly  turned  outline. 

Labt  G.  Certainly.   I  see  there  is,  as  usual,  abalustrade* 

Ii«CoETBO.  Which,  for  my  part,  I  do  not  approve  of; 
though  it  is  too  usual  to  add  this  ornament  to  the  Corinthian, 
and,  I  believe,  to  .the  Ionic  orders,  with  which  it  has  just  as 
much  to  do  as  it  has  with  the  Doric. 

Falk.  The  Library  contains,  among  other  things.  Lord 
Orrery's  collection. — ^II  Cortbg.  Such  donations  may  be 
very  fair  when  a  man  has  no  children,  nor  any  immediately- 
colhiteral  relations.    This  was  the  case  with  Wolsey  ;  who. 


I, 


'•  \   *r 


\,    » ' 


I      '. 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

among  his  other  magnificent  plans^  had  intended  to  famish 
this  library  with  copies  of  all  the  valuable  manuscripts  at  the 
Vatican.  Ladt  G.  That  Cardinal  had  the  soul  of  a  King  ; 
Heniy  the  Eighth  appears  quite  mean^  rapacious,  and  sordid, 
when  put  in  comparison  with  him. 

Il  Cortxo,  It  is  impossible  during  this  short  stay  to  exa- 
mine minutely  this  Library  and  this  Picture  Gallery.  It 
contains,  however,  some  valuable  originals  of  Buonaiotti, 
Raphael^  and  the  Caraccb. — Ijady  G.  As  to  that  bust  of 
Dr.  Frewen,  by  Roubiliac,  it  is  very  energetically  remariced 
by  Mr.  Brewer,  ^^  that  not  only  are  the  dryness  and  wiinklea 
of  old  age  well  expressed — ^but  m  the  marble  itself  ibe  popil 
of  the  eye  is  evidently  deadened,  and  the  sight  grown  dim.*' 

£jLF.  He  observes,  too^  of  Dominichino's  picture,  rqvre* 
seating  the  Magdalen  expiring,  while  she  is  supported  by 
eherubs,  **  that  it  was  a  very  natund  jmd  moat  affieedng 
thought  in  the  painter,  the  expressing  in  the  children's  fiices, 
who  have  not  yet  any  idea  what  kind  of  a  thii^  deatb  is, 
their  alternate  playfulness  and  wonder  at  the  change  of 
colour  in  the  Magdalen,  while  a  mortal  coldness  is  stealing 
over  her.  The  roses  of  purple  infiincy  and  life,  contrast 
well  with  the  liWd  hue  of  death  in  the  face  of  the  adnit,  yet 
once  beautiful,  Magdalen. 

Faik.  Peckwater  Court  having  afforded  such  noble  aped- 
mena  of  the  Ionic  and  Corinthian,  it  remained  to  exemplify 
the  Italian  or  modem-Doric  in  Canterbury  Court ;  as  we  see 
in  this  beautiful  archway  between  two  Doric  cobunns  fluted. 

On  the  site  of  this  Court  fonnerly  stood  a  hall,  founded  and 
endowed  by  Simon  Islip,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  Of  this 
hall,  Wickliae  was  once  warden ;  and  afterwards  &  Thomas 
Moore,  a  student  or  resident,  under  the  celebrated  Linacie 
and  Grocyn.  The  north  and  east  sides  were  completed,  and 
the  south  side  rebuilt,  at  the  expense  principally  of  the 
Primate  Robinson,  who  may  be  traced  by  his  benefactions, 
every  where.    For  munificence  was  life  to  that  excellent  man. 


CHHI8TCHURCH  COLL£GB.-*PAmT  II. 

MtT.  Let  US  return  by  Peckwater  Court  into  the  grand 
quadrangle*  I  thiok  there  is  suitable  grandeur  in  this  ample 
terrace ;  it  is  carried  all  round  close  to  the  walls  of  the  qua* 
drangle ;  enclosing  a  sunken  area^  which  has  been  converted 
into  a  grass-plot^  having  its  circular  basin  of  water  in  the 
centre. — Fai,k.  A  cross,  dedicated  to  St*  Frideswide,  formerly 
stood  here ;  and  a  pulpit^  whence  the  reformer  Wiclifie  first 
preached^  formerly  occupied  that  identical  spot. 

Henry  the  Eighth,  Queen  Elizabeth,  James  and  Charles 
the  First,  and,  lastly,  while  he  was  Regent,  the  present 
JECing^  dined  in  the  Hall  here.  When  King  James  the 
First  came  here,  the  scholars  greeted  him,^it  seems,  with 
humming.  '<  Whereat/'  say  the  books,  <<  His  Majesty  some- 
what discomposed  and  piqued"**-signifyed  a  desire  of  receiv- 
ing some  apology  or  explanation.  Being  assured  it  was  a 
species  of  acclamation,  he  was  at  once  put  in  good  humour.'* 

A  Parliament  was  once  opened  by  Charles  the  First  in 
this  Hall.  The  Lords  proceeded  afterwards  to  business  tn 
the  Schools ;  and  the  Commons  in  the  ConvocgHon^House. 
If.  CoETBo.  Considering  the  ignorance,  fanaticbmj .  and 
evil  counsels  of  that  day,  it  would  have  been  better  if  the 
King  had  convened  Parliament  earlier  and  oftener  in  another 
/ifac0— and  if  the  other  two  branches  of  the  then  legislature 
had  had  some  experience  of  the  other  two  places  above-men- 
tioned respectively. — ^Falk.  It  would  have  obviated  many 
severe  lessons  and  the  meeting  of  many  tragical  councils 
afterwards. 

Under  the  Hall  is,  with  great  propriety,  the  common- 
room,  and  with  still  greater,  under  this  last,  is  the  kitchen. 
MhVk  We  must  not  forget  to  see  this  far-famed  kitchen. 
Edoab.  I  think  it  looks  like  an  inquisition-house :  but 
as  for  the  enormous  gridiron,  as  wide  as  a  floor,  moved  on 
wheels,  it  reminds  me  of  Polyphemus's  cave :  the  cooks  look 
like  so  many  Cyclop8.p— Faul.  Hie  caterers  of  this  college 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

have  long  sioce  ceased  to  be  Anthropophagi :  and  Ulysses 
and  his  companions  might  safely  venture  here  without  that 
ticket  of  admission  Homer  gives  them.  Edgar.  If  I  recoUecc 
right,  he  smuggled  them  ail  out,  hid  under  so  many 
saddles  of  fimtion. — ^II  Cortrg.  It  mint  be  confessed 
that  cooking  here,  though  no  longer  promising  a  feast  for 
cannibals,  might  satisfy  the  maw  of  whole  regiments  at  onee, 
as  well  as  an  election  dinner,  where  oxen  are  broiled  whole : 
when,  as  Burke  says,  the  candidate  rides  on  friction  wheels  of 
gold  (numerisque  fertnr  lege  solutis.) — ^Edgar.  This  absolitte 
Cardinal  was  a  very  John  Bull  himself  in  ho^tality,  and 
in  absolutions  and  iodulgencies  of  thai  nature. 

Edgar*  What  names  adorn  the  rolls  of  this  College  ? 

Falk.  I  do  not  profess  to  enumerate  all.  First,  Penn 
the  founder  of  Pensylvania  :  he  had  been  expelled  this  Col- 
lege. To  him,  therefore,'  you  may  assign  the  epitiqph  of  Ae 
unknown  person  alluded  to  in  our  walk  through  Baliol  College. 
To  this  add.  Dean  Aldrich  $  Atterbury ;  Sackville,  Earl  of  Dor- 
set ;  Eustace  Budgel :  Lord  Lyttelton ;  Otway ;  Ben  Johnson ; 
William  Murray,  Earl  of  Mansfield;  Sur  William  Godolphinj 
Lord  Chancellor  Nottingham ;  Lord  Bolingbroke ;  Charles 
Boyle^  Earl  of  Orrery;  Bennet,  Earl  of  Arlington,  one  of 
the  cabal ;  Villiers,  Duke  of  Buckingham;  Sir  Philip 
Sydney ;  Locke ;  Camden ;  Casaubon ;  Pryn ;  Charles  Wes- 
ley, co-founder  of  the  Methodists  ;  Edmund  Smith  ;  John 
Piullips ;  Dr.  Cyril  Jackson,  who  after  being  dean  twen- 
ty-six years,  resigned  in  1809. — Sed  quo  me  fessum  rapis  ! 

Ladt  G.  It  is  singular,  that  though  Cardinal  Wolseylaid 
the  foundation,  and  built  this  magnificent  College,  as  well 
as  another  very  splendid  Palace  at  Hampton  Court,  which 
latter  he  lived  to  complete,  that  the  spot  where  his  remains 
were  interred  has  never  yet  been  discovered.  Much  pains 
have  been  taken  to  ascertain  this,  at  Leicester  Abbey,  where 
he  died  and  was  buried ;  but  hitherto  In  vain. 


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i^^^^»^#^ 


Falk.  This  College  musters  on  its  rolls,  among  the  di- 
es,   Chillingworth :    among   the  constitutional   lawyexs 
d  antiquaries,  a  Selden  and  Somen  : — among  the  oiatoxs, 
tt.  Earl  of  Chatham,  and  Lord  North  : — ^statesmen  and 
.trons  of  learning,  Montague,  Earl  of  Halifax :  it  had  Evelyn, 
e  author  of  Sylva; — and  among  republicans,  Harrington, 
eton  and  Ludlow  ;-^poets.  Sir  William  Durham ;  Settle; 
edge  ;  Meyrick  |  Glanville ;  and  ThomasWarton.  It  had  also 
beldon,  who  gave  the  theatre  to  the  University  at  large ;  and 
)r.  Bathurst,  almost  the  only  benefactor  here. 

Edgar.  But  its  munificent  founder  left  it  independent 
>f  benefactors. 

Falk.  Sir  Thomas  Pope,  privy  counsellor  to  Henry  VIII. 
uid  Mary,  founded  this  College  in  1 555,  obtaining  the  charter 
from  Philip  and  Mary.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  court  of 
augmentations ;  the  friend  also  of  Sir  Thomas  More. 

LadtG.  I  must  see  the  gardens  and  garden  front. — Falk. 
This  garden-front,  or  inner  quadrangle,  as  it  is  called,  though 
of  three  sides  only,  and  the  chapel,  are  the  characteristic 
buildings  of  this  College,  and  are  classical ;  the  former  of  Sir 
C.  Wren,  the  latter  after  a  drawing  at  least  of  Dean  Aldricfa, 
who  designed  All  Saint's  Church  also. — LadtG.  Yes  the  Cha- 
pel is  exactly  in  the  style  of  that  Church. — Falk.  The  screen, 
which  divides  the  Chapel  from  the  ante«cbapel,  is  of  cedar 
adorned  with  rich  and  elegant  carving,  by  Grinlin  Gibbons : 
and  is,  according  to  a  very  accurate  and  candid  observer,  *^  the 
most  exquisite  specimen  in  the  University."  Among  the 
plate  belonging  to  the  altar  is  a  chalice  of  silver  gilt,  highly 
ornamented   with  antique  sculpture.    This  was  purchased  by 

N 


BIAJLOOUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

the  foimder  from  the  suppressed  abbey  of  St.  Alban's,  at  the 
dissolution. 

liAj>Y  G.  The  piece  of  worsted-work  over  the  altar,  repre- 
senting the  Resurrection,  suggests  a  fine  subject,  and  field  of 
industry  for  our  sex. 

Il  Cortbg.  The  Gothic  tomb  of  the  founder  and  his  lady 
in  this  classical  building,  has  been,  I  think,  judiciously 
hid  under  an  alcove,  its  character  being  different  from  that 
of  the  chapel  enclosing  it.  I  like  thb  range  of  well-propor- 
tioned windows,  in  the  front  of  the  chapel,  having  semi- 
circular heads  and  intermediate  pilasters,  crowned  with  a 
light  balustrade. — ^^lf.  I  see,  at  regular  distances,  unis 
are  placed.  Lady  G.  A  corresponding  balustrade  enriches 
the  summit  of  the  tower,  on  the  comers  of  which  those  four 
statues  supply  the  place  of  pinnacles,  extremely  well. 

Fajlk.  This  tower  of  the  chapel  serves  as  an  arched 
gateway ;  after  passing  through  which,  we  arrive  at  a  small 
quadrangle,  co-eval  with  some  of  the  earliest  buildings  in  the 
University.  The  present  structures  that  range  round  it  are 
the  chapel,  the  hall,  the  library,  the  apartments  of  the  Presi- 
dent, and  the  line  of  buildings  uniting  the  two  quadrangles. 
Right  over  the  entrance  into  this  small  old  quadrangle 
from  the  other  Garden-court,  you  observe  a  tower  rises: 
which  the  architect  has  made  to  appear  like  a  steeple  be- 
longing to  the  chapel  adjoining  the  tower  on  the  east :  both 
together  forming  the  chief  front  of  the  College  to  the  south. 
Il  Cortbg.  But  this  Hall  b  in  the  old  Gothic  style  ? 
Falk.  Yes,  built  in  1618,  on  this  western  side  of  the 
quadrangle ;  it  has  a  new  roof  with  battlements.  I  wish  it  had 
not  a  skreen  of  the  Doric  order.  It  contains,  besides  a 
portrait  of  the  founder,  one  of  Bathurst ;  also  of  Wartoo, 
and  of  Lord  North,-<-<-as  the  Library  does  of  Mary,  who 
was  Queen  Regnant.  The  Chapel  forms  the  southern  sideof 
the  small  quadrangle. 


TRINITY  COLLEGE* 

In  the  Libnurjr^  the  most  ancient  part  of  the  College^  the 
same  which  formed  a  part  of  Durham  College^  is  shewn  a 
valuable  manuscript  of  Euclid;  being  a  translation  from  the 
Arabic  into  Latin,  before  the  diseovery  of  the  original  Greek 
by  Adelaidus  Bathonias,  in  the  year  1  ISO.  It  was  pyen  by 
the  founder  with  several  other  manuscripts. 

The  common  room  contiuns  an  admirable  portrait  of 
Warton. 

The  Garden  Court  was  the  first  instance  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  the  adoption  of  classic  architecture^  in  1667,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Bathurst,  the  then  president.  He  was  president 
no  leas  than  forty  years. 

Il  CoaTBo.  The  Garden  may  be  truly  denominated  the 
jircMteeturfil  style  of  gardening.  It  consists  of  ponderous 
yew  hedges,  chiselled  into  solid  walls ;  and  of  a  poor  avenue 
in  imitation  of  a  most  wretched  Gothic  nave. 

Falk.  There  is  an  anecdote  of  Elizabeth  approving  tiie 
Statutes,  which  had  been  revised  by  Cardinal  Pole ;  and  of  her 
begging  off  two  of  the  fellows  who  had  committed  the  hei- 
nous  misdemeanour  6f  violating  the  Statute  of  the  Founder, 
^^demurU  nodu  -non  scandendis  "  The  guide  books  slily 
wish  to  make  this  breach  of  the  Statutes,  and  the  subsequent 
dispensation,  a  mere  harmless  Joke.  This  happened  when 
she  was  under  his  custody  in  the  reign  of  Mary,  at  Hatfield 
House,  in  Hertfordshire,  then  a  royal  palace.  He  used  her 
courteously,  and  survived  her  accession  one  year. 

Before  the  foundation  and  endowment  of  Colleges,  or  of 
the  setting  apart  halls  for  the  students,  these  used  to  lodge 
in  the  citizens'  houses,  as  is  the  present  custom  in  foreign 
universities.  These  tenements  were  called  halls  from  the 
German;  from  the  Saxon,  inns;  and  hostels  from  the 
French. 

Edgar.  What  were  the  quadrivials  and  trivials. — Falk. 
The  four  mathematical  arts  are  arithmetic,  geometry,  music, 

n2 


DIAU>GUE  UPON  OXFORD. 


>^ 


and  astroQomy.  These  were  anciently  termed  tbe^tfodri- 
viunif  or  four-fold  way .  to  knowledge.  The  other-  three,  or 
the  triviumj  were  grammar,  logic,  and  rhetoric :  this  come 
was  called  the  three-fold  way ;  and  both  added  together, 
completed  the  number  of  the  seven  liberal  sciences. 

Il  Corteg.  The  expressbn  of  *'  It  b  Greek  tc  me,  I  can't 
understand  it"  one  should  little  expect  to  hear,  was  fiist  in 
use  at  Oxford.  On  the  revival  of  learning,  great  resistance 
was  made  here  to  the  introduction  of  Greek,  by  the  haters  of 
innovation,  who,  on  this  occasion,  called  themselves  Trojans. 
Edgar.  This  word  was  the  origin  of  Tory. — Fasjk,  They 
afterwards  complained  to  Bishop  Gardener,  the  chancellor, 
t>f  Cheke's  novel  pronunciation ;  and  a  decree  was  made, 
confirming  the  corrupt  method,  with  penalties ;  in  a  regent, 
expulsion  from  the  senate;  in  a  candidate  for  a  degree^  non- 
admissal ;  in  a  scholar,  loss  of  scholarship.  The  younger  part 
were  to  be  chastised. 

Ii.  CoRTBG.  Corporal  chastisement  ceased  before  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  century ;  until  which  time  it  is 
probable  students  used  to  be  sent  to  both  Universities  at  a 
much  earlier  age  than  at  present.  They  were,  often,  childieo. 

Sir  Thomas  Pope  endowed  this  College  with  thirty-five 
manors,  and  thirteen  advowsons,  besides  various  impropria* 
tions  and  rectories.  He  had  been  educated  at  Eton.  He 
was  the  person  appointed  by  Henry  VIII«  to  notify  to  Sir 
Thomas  More,  the  fatal  hour  of  his  execution. 


^1 


I» 


rliSTER    COILILEGE. 


J 


IXrOBOBSTBR  OOI»XiBOB. 


^i^»^»»#»#># 


Falk«  Worcester  College  stands  od  the  site  of  Gloucester 
Hall,  which  was  founded  in  1283«  It  is  situated  NNW.  im 
the  suburbs^  at  nearly  an  equal  distance^  as  you  may  observe, 
from  the  site  of  the  ancient  palace  of  Beaumont,  and  the 
rains  of  Rewley  Abbey. — Mly.  It  stands  in  a  commanding 
situation  on  a  declivity ;  overlooking  the  river  Isis,  and  these 
charming  meadows. 

Falk.  This  College  is  of  so  moderu  a  date  as  1714.  The 
western  side  of  the  quadranglle  is  always  to  remain  open. 
The  eastern  is  elevated  on  a  terrace.— Ijl  Cortbg.  I  see  it 
is  a  regular  elegant  pile,  two  stories  in  height,  with  a  pro- 
jecting centre,  decorated  with  Ionic  pilasters,  and  crowned 
with  a  pediment.— Edgar.  This  lofty  piazza  continued  along 
the  whole  front,  announces  the  hall,  chapel,  and  library.' 

Falk.  Here  was  once  the  residence  of  Gilbert,  Earl  of 
Gloucester,  in  1260. 

This  Library,  of  the  Ionic  order,  extends  100,  or  I2(f 
feet  in  length  oyer  the  piazza.  It  b  particularly  rich  in 
architectural  books  and  MSS. ;  among  which,  is  the  Palladio 
of  Inigo  Jones,  with  his  own  manuscript-notes  in  Italian.. 

In  the  new  buildings  on  the  north  are  the  provost's  lodg- 
ings, which  contain  some  good  original  paintings  of  the 
Dutch  school,  and  an  original  portrait  of  Camden. 

The  Hall  (of  the  dame  dimensions  as  the  chapel,  sixty  by 
thirty),  is  like  that,  a  very  elegant  room.  They  both  project 
outward  from  the  Library.  Part  of  the  western  end  of  the 
Hall  is  divided  off  from  the  entire  length  by  two  fluted  Corin- 
thian columns,  of  very  elegant  form  and  proportions.  The 
roof  is  richly  ornamented  with  stucco.    Over  the  altar,  is  a 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

fine  old  painting  of  the  Magdalen — the  artist  unknown. 
It  was  left  to  the  College  by  Dr.  Nash^  among  several  other 
fine  pictores. 

Among  other  exhibitions,  are  two  for  Charter-house 
scholars. 

'  The  ancient  habitations  of  the  monks  of  Gloucester 
were  distingoished  by  arms  and  rebnsses  cat  in  stone  over 
Uieir  respective  doors,  some  of  which,  you  see,  are  still  visi- 
ble in  the  old  buildings  here  yet  standing. — Edgar.  On  one 
of  these^  on  that  last  house  westward,  b  a  comb  and  a  tun, 
with  the  letter  W  over  it  ?— Falk.  Which  is  interpreted  Id 
mean  William  Compton,  who  was  a  benefactor. — ^Edgar. 
We  have  a  similar  instance  in  another  College  at  Oxford^  of 
a  beacon  over  a  ftcft,  to  signify  Beckington. — Mlm^  And 
in  Queen's  College  Egglesfield,  aiguiUes  fil,  needles  and 
thread. — II  Cortbg.  This  clue  might  perhaps  lead  to  the 
name  of  the  person,  for  whom  some  shrine,  or  tomb,  in 
Christ  Church  Cathedral,  was  made ;  which  has  a  pen  and 
an  ink-horn  sculptured  upon  it ;  but  who  the  person  was, 
for  whom  it  was  designed,  has  never  been  discovered. 

Falk.  According  to  Bryan  Twyne,  Gloucester  Hall  con* 
tained  five  or  six  halls  in  it,  belonging  to  divers  abbeys,  which 
severally  kept  house  by  themselves ;  for  it  belonged  to  the 
whole  order  within  the  province  of  Canterbury,  subject  to 
the  regulations  of  the  general  chapter.  Hence  the  different 
fashions,  or  names  of  buildings,  yet  extant  in  this  Hall, 
as.  Gloucester  lodgings,  Westminster,  Winchcombe  lodgings, 
&c« 

Ii.  CoRno.  In  the  Oxoniana  it  is  mentioned,  that,  in 
the  rivalry  between  the  mendicants  and  the  monks,  the  latter 
aviuling  themselves  of  their  riches,  and  for  the  sake  of  popu- 
larity, proceeded  to  their  degrees  (when  at  last  admitted  to 
such),  with  prodigious  parade.  In  1298,  William  de  Brooke, 
a  Benedictine  of  St.  Peter's  Abbey,  at  Gloucester,  took  the 


WORCESTER  COLLEGE. 

degree  of  D.D.  at  Oxford.  He  was  attended  on  this  occasion 
hj  the  abbot  and  whole  convent  of  Gloucester ;  the  abbots 
of  Westminster^  Reading,  Abingdon,  Evesham,  and  Malms- 
bury  ;  also  by  one  hundred  noblemen  and  esquires,  on  horses 
xichly  caparisoned.  These  were  entertained  at  a  sumptuous 
feast  in  the  refectory  of  Gloucester.  College. — ^Falk.  But  it 
should  be  observed,  that  he  was  the  first  of  the  Benedictine 
order  who  attuned  this  dignity. 

A  class  called  fellow  commoners  is  recognized  at  Worces- 
ter College.  It  is  the  name  there  for  gentlemen  commoners, 
as  at  Cambridge  and  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  At  All  Souls^ 
and  New  Colleges,  no  students  are  admitted  except  those  on 
the  foundation ;  while  at  Corpus  Christi,  only  six  gentlemen 
commoners.  At  Magdalen,  none  other  but  gentlemen  com- 
moners  are  admitted. 

The  following  inferior  officers  belong  to  the  University : 
three  esquire  bedels,  three  yeomen  bedels,  a  verger,  a  bailiff, 
a  clerk,  a  bellman,  and  a  marshal.  The  esquire  bedels- 
carry  maces  of  silver,  wrought  and  gilt ;  the  yeomen  bedels, 
plain  silver  maces ;  the  verger,  a  silver  rod.  These  walk,  on 
solemn  occasions,  before  the  Vice-Chancellor,  to  obey  his 
commands,  like  the  Roman  licton.  He  is  never  without  one 
at  least  of  the  yeomen  bedels  to  attend  him. 

The  persons  who  are  candidates  to  become  burgesses  for 
the  University,  to  represent  it  in  P^liament,  must  neither 
canvass  for  votes,  nor  give  treat,  nor  declare  the  least  in- 
tention of  doing  so. 

^LF.  What  are  the  different  dresses  of  the  gownsmen  ?--- 
Falk.  The  first  dresses  of  students  are  supposed  to  have 
been  made  in  imitation  of  those  worn  by  the  Benedictine 
monks,  who  were  the  chief  restorers  of  literature. — Ladt  G. 
I  should  like  to  hear  an  explanation  of  the  ordinary  college 
habits  worn  at  present  ? — ^Falk.  A  master  of  arts  wears  a 
gown  of  prince's  stuff,  and  a  hood  of  black  silk  lined  with 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

crimson ;  the  gown  is  remarlcable  for  the  semi^circnlar  cut 
at  the  bottom  of  the  sleeves.  A  bachelor  of  arts,  a  prince's 
stuff  gown  looped  up  at  the  elbow^  and  terminating  in  a 
point ;  the  black  hood  lined  with  far.  That  b  a  nobleman 
yon  now  see  passing  through  the  gate  |  he  has,  as  you  ob- 
serve^  a  black  silk  gown  with  full  sleeves ;  a  tippet  like  that 
worn  by  the  proctors  attached  to  the  shoulders.  The  person 
he  was  walking  with  was  a  gentleman  commfmer,  in  a  silk 
gown  plaited  at  the  sleeves.  A  commoner,  you  know,  we 
meet  commonly  at  every  com^  in  a  gown  of  prince's  stuff, 
no  sleeves,  a  black  strip  appended  from  each  shoulder 
reaches  to  the  bottom  of  the  dress,  and  towards  the  top  is 
gathered  into  plaits. — ^Edoar.  The  student  of  civil  law, 
wears  a  plain  silk  gown,  with  lilac  hood  ? — ^Falk.  Yes ; 
here  comes  a  scholar,  in  his  plain  stuff  gown  with  full  sleeves. 
A  servitor,  a  gown  like  the  commoners,  but  without  plaits  at 
the  shoulder. — ^Ladt  G.  Square  black  caps  are  worn  by  all 
ranks  ?-*Falk.  They  are  called  trencher-caps,  for  though 
belonging  to  the  head,  study  is,  somehow  or  other,  ever 
connected  with  eating.'  The  caps  of  noblemen  and  gentle- 
men commoners  are  of  velvet ;  those  of  the  former  are 
always  distinguished  by  a  gold  tassel.  The  cap  worn  by 
the  servitor  (whom  they  call  sizor  at  Cambridge),  has  no 
tassel,  but  all  others  wear  black  ones.  Proctors  wear  the 
gown  of  a  master  of  arts,  with  ermined  hood  and  velvet 
sleeves.  You  will  see  all  this  costume  represented  with 
uncommon  taste,  precision,  and  elegance  in  Ackerman'9 
plates  to  his  University  of  Oxford,  and  equally  well  described 
in  Wade. 


a^EMBROKE  COXa.EGB, 


<  ' 


PBMBBOKB  OOIiLEOfi. 


^■^N^^^N^VV^ 


Falk.  This  College  (as  well  as  Mflgdalen  and  Christ 
Church)  9  has  to  claim  among  her  worthies^  the  great  anti-^ 
quaiy  of  the  United  Kingdom^  Camdbn. — II  Cortbg.  Yes : 
he  was  anterior  to  Twyne^  whom  as  you  have  called  the 
fother  of  modern  antiquaries^  Camden  must  have  been  the 
grandfather  ?-*-E]>g ar.  And  Leland  the  great  grandfather*-* 
Falk.  Perhaps  that  might  be  more  correct. 

This  College  has  on  its  list,  also,  the  great  Pym,  and 
another  of  contrary  principles,  Dr.  Johnson. — Mlf.  We 
must  not  forget  Shenstone,  the  poet. — II  Corteg.  Nor 
Blackstone,  who  wrote  not  merely  the  best  Commentaries, 
but  after  one  of  the  best  styles  in  the  English,  language.-^ 
Falk.  The  celebrated  calvinistic  methodist  Whitfield,  was 
of  this  College.  And  besides,  in  1408,  the  Cardinal  Reping- 
don  ;  the  prelates  Moore  and  Bonner ;  Newcome,  the  pre- 
ceptor  of  Charles  James  Fox ;  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  Dyer, 
&c.  The  character  of  the  founder,  William  Herbert,  Earl 
of  Pembroke,  is  one  of  Lord  Clarendon's  best  sketches. 

Il  Cortbg.  This  Chapel  is  a  handsome  building  of  the 
Ionic  order :  I  admire  much  the  altar-piece. — Falk.  It  was 
for  the  sake  of  its  chapel  I  ranked  this  among  the  classical 
C<dlege8 ;  the  rest  of  its  buildings  are  homely  and  rustic. 
Four  well-proportioned  windows,  with  semi-circular  heads, 
range  along  that  northern  firont,  in  which  is  the  handsome 
doorway :  between  each  of  the  former  is  an  Ionic  pilaster, 
supporting  an  entablature  and  a  low  blank  attic,  which 
nearly  conceals  the  finely  arched  roof. — ^II  Cortbg.  I  observed 
over  the  altar,  a  picture  of  our  Saviour  after  the  resurrection : 
it  is  a  painting  of  considerable  merit;  a  copy  of  Cranke^ 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

after  that  of  Reubens^  in  the  cathedral  of  Antwerp.— Fi 
The  design  and  colouring  are  highly  natural. — Em>gam.  But 
ought  they  not  to  be  supemaiuralf 

Falk.  Westward  of  the  Chapel  is  the  garden^  in  which 
is  a  pleasant  common-room,  and  an  agreeable  terrace-walk 
formed  on  the  city  wall. — BLve»  Yes  :  Edgar  and  I  enjoyed 
an  agreeable  promenade  there  yesterday  monung  for  an  hour 
and  a  half. 

Faia.  It  was  founded,  this  College,  in  1620^  by  two 
private  gentlemen,  quaintly  called,  in  that  age^  <^  its  joint- 
fathers  ;"  in  the  same  style,  the  then  Chancellor  of  Qzfofd, 
Earl  of  Pembroke,  was  called  godfaiher.  From  Charles  L 
it  had  the  grant  of  the  living  of  St.  Aldate,  Oxford,  together 
with  a  fellowship.  By  Queen  Anne,  a  prebend  of  Gloucester 
was  annexed  to  the  mastership.  Morley,  the  bishop  of 
Winton,  founded  five  scholarships  for  the  natives  of  Jersey 
and  Guernsey.  The  foundation  has  been  much  enlaq^ 
since  by  the  addition  of  several  fellowships^  exhibitions,  and 
scholarships ;  the  principal  object  with  the  benefactors  of  this 
College. 

It  was  originally  Broadgate  Hall,  a  flourishing  house  of 
learning,  fiunous  for  the  study  of  the  civil  law ;  at  whidi 
time,  Camden  received  here  part  of  his  education. 

The  quadrangle,  you  will  say,  is  small ;  but  it  is  xeguhrly 
built.  The  master's  lodgings  are  on  the  outside  of  the  gate 
to  the  right  of  the  entrance.  Formerly,  not  only  their  chapel 
consisted  merely  of  one  of  the  aisles  of  St.  Aldate's  Church, 
but  their  library  also  was  there,  in  a  large  room  above. 

Edgah.  Taking  a  degree  anciently  was  not  a  mere 
empty  title,  as  appears  by  this  entry  in  the  University  registeis : 
<'  One  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  a  scholar  in  rhetoric,  supplicated 
to  be  admitted  to  read  lectures,  that  is^  to  take  a  degree  in 
that  faculty.''— Falk.  The  expressbn  of  hatt  ledureM, 
however,  amae  from  there  being  little  or  no  audicnoe.    De- 


PEMBROKE  COLLEGE. 

^ree^  in  grammar  (which  included  rhetoric  and  ver8ificatioD)| 
were  aociently  taken  in  our  Universities,  particularly  at 
OiLford ;  on  which  occasion,  a  wreath  of  laurel  was  presented 
to  the  new  graduate,  who  was  thereupon  usually  styled  poeta 
laureaiui.  In  process  of  tune,  the  regular  period  of  con- 
ferring degrees,  was  anticipated  upon  the  payment  of  certun 
pecuniary  fines.  On  these  occasions,  the  ordinary  perquisites 
or  liveries,  were  knives,  gloves,  and  cloth  for  gowns  to  the 
regents*  Afterwards,  instead  of  these,  it  was  common  to 
substitute  a  literary  exercise,  some  part  of  Cicero,  or  a  book 
of  Sallust,  to  be  read  to  the  under  graduates ;  a  copy  of  Latin 
verses,  or  a  comedy ;  with  a  fine  of  a  few  shillings  to  repair 
the  convocation-house,  to  glaze  a  window,  repair  the  dial, 
the  beadle's  stafi;  &c. 

The  satumalian  custom,  also,  of  a  speech  from  theTenrse 
Fnius,  attacking  without  reserve  the  follies  of  the  place,  and 
sparing  no  person  or  age  whatever,  was  discontinued  about 
the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century*  AyliflTe  says,  the 
custom  originated  at  the  Reformation. — Falk.  It  may  have 
been  revived  at  that  time«-— II  Cobtbo.  In  the  reign  of 
James,  when  the  king  was  at  Oxford,  the  scholars,  to  the 
number  of  above  100,  were  sent  to  prison  for  wearing  their 
bats  at  sermon.  This  was  not  merely  for  being  covered,  but 
for  not  being  covered  in  the  appointed  manner — ^that  b,  with 
caps.  For  it  appears  from  an  old  drawing  of  the  23rd  of 
Elizabeth,  that  it  was  then  usual  for  men  to  sit  covered  in 
churches  ;  (the  Oxoniana  adds, ''  and  had  been  originally)/' 
Edgab.  Bat  what  proof  is  there  of  that  from  the  print? — 
On  the  above  occasion,  140  were  sent  to  prison  en  their 
oaiAs,  and  they  accordingly  went  there  without  any  officer 
ccHnpeUing  them.  I  think  this  a  notable  proof  of  virtuous 
discipline  in  the  younger  part  of  the  Univerrily. 

Il  C!oetbg.    On  the  subject  of   regent-masters.   Dr. 
Wallis  says,  before  we  had  so  many  coU^es  and  endow- 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

tnents,  every  master  and  doctor  in  each  facidty,  was^ 
obliged^  upon  taking  soch  degree,  to  be  a  regent  for  some 
number  of  years:  that  is,  to  have  a  school,  and  there 
to  read  lectures  constantly.  Each  student  was  entered 
in  some  such  school,  under  one  of  these.  Next  after  this 
necessary  regency,  they  were  for  some  time  longer  regentes 
ad  phcitum ;  and  afterwards  (except  the  doctors  in  the 
superior  faculties),  nan  regenies,  that  is,  as  I  understand  it, 
masters  do  longer  schooling,  or  giving  lectures. — Falk. 
And  hence  it  is,  that  the  collating  to  degrees  is  entrusted  to 
the  congregation  of  regent  masters,  as  being  supposed  best 
acquainted  with  the  diligence  and  proficiency  of  their  respec- 
tive scholars  :  while  yet  the  greater  afiairs  of  the  University 
are  despatched  by  the  convocation  (or  magna  congr^aHoJ, 
^*  magistrorum  regentium  et  non  regentium" 

Lady  G.  I  like  this  plain  gateway  opening  beneath  a 
low  tower,  that  conducted  us  into  the  quadrangle.  Dr. 
Johnson's  apartment  was  on  the  second  floor  over  the  gate- 
way. 

Falk.  That  opening  at  the  north-eastern  corner  is  the 
entrance  into  the  Hall.  In  this  Hall  is  a  bust  of  Dr.  John- 
son, and  a  fine  picture  of  Charles.  This  Hall  was  the  original 
refectory  of  Broaidgate's. 

The  appropriation  of  so  many  of  the  fellowships  and 
scholarships  to  the  relations  of  each  founder  respectively, 
was  the  cause,  that  in  1816  there  were  several  vacancies  for 
want  of  claimants. 

Edgar.  Have  you  seen  a  bird's  eye  view  of  this  College 
in  Loggan's  plates ;  its  plan,  and  terrace  walks,  really  look 
like  an  enchanted  palace,  or  like  the  Borromean  Isles  and 
gardens  in  the  Lago  Maggiore.— Il  Cortbg.  You  must 
have  been  under  some  enchantment  when  you  thought  so^ 
or  you  saw  it  perhaps  in  a  dream  ?— Edgar.  No>  indeed ; 
or,  at  least  if  I  did,  it  was  a  waking  one. 


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^LF.  I  understand  this  College^  if  not  founded  by  a 
woman^  has  ever  been  under  the  special  patronage  of  one, 
the  Queens  of  England.  Egglesfield^  Confessor  to  Queen 
Philippa,  the  Consort  of  Edward  III.  procured  from  his  illus- 
trious penitents  both  royal  patronage  and  royal  donations. 
The  Consort  of  George  II.  and  the  late  Queen  Charlotte, 
gave  also  proofs  of  their  munificence.  Charles  I.  at  the 
instance  of  Henrietta  Maria,  be  it  ever  remembered,  gave  it 
six  advowsons. 

Edgar.  It  is,  if  possible,  still  more  distinguished  among 
the  Colleges  of  .Oxford  for  its  architecture. — II  Cortbo. 
If  once  we  admit  that  colleges  are  to  be  built  like  palaces,  it 
.must  be  allowed  that  this  is  one. — ^Ladt  G.  It  is  said  to 
resemble  the  Luxembourg  at  Paris. — ^Falk.  The  whole  too 
is  of  one  order,  whereas  the  buildings  of  Christchurch  are 
evidently  divided  into  two  distinct  characters ;  as  much  so, 
as  if  it  were  two  distinct  Colleges.    If  the  north-east  pas« 
.  sage  out  of  the  great  quadrangle  into  Peckwater  Court  were 
stopped  up,  it  «wou1d  become  so. — II  Cortsg.  And  such 
division  would.be  in  a  good  taste ;  each  would  be  then  more 
beautiful,  because,  a  more  regular  and  consistent  composi- 
tion ;  if  separate  in  fact,  as  they  are  in  tone  and  character. 

Ladt  G.  Come,  Edgar,  do  you  be  Cicerone^  and  open 
the  book,  that  we  may  compare  as  we  go  along,  whether  the 
description  is  accurate. 

Edgar.  '^  On  the  north  side  of  High  Street,  nearly  at  the 
central  point  of  its  bend,  this  College  extends  a  screen  of  220 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

feet  in  length.  In  this  skreen  the  intercolumniations  are  left 
open.  In  the  centre,  between  beaudfiil  colamns  of  mstk 
work,  b  the  grand  entrance ;  over  which  rises  a  light  dome, 
not  supported  by  walk,  but  by  open  columns  in  pairs." — II 
CoRTBG.  I  wish  it  were  shut,  or  that  they  would  place  in  it  a 
better  statue  of  George  the  Second's  Queen ;  the  affected 
attitude  of  which,  and  the  contour  of  her  persoD,  sweUing 
almost  as  if  she  were  bursting  with  a  dropsy,  are  neither 
consonant  to  the  simplicity  of  the  order,  nor  to  the  Queen's 
proportions. 

Falk.  In  the  skreen,  observe,  there  are  tall  iSches 
wrought  at  regular  intervals.  The  extremities  of  the  screea 
are  formed  by  two  elegant  lodges  of  two  stories  each ;  the 
lower  one  rustic,  crowned  by  pediments,  each  pediment  sup- 
porting three  statues,  and  having  sculpture  on  its  tjrmpanum. 

Ptesing  through  the  gateway  we  are  now  ushered  into  a  no- 
ble quadrangle,  240  feet  by  230.  (Edgar  reads,) — *'  The 
northern  side  is  formed  by  the  Chapel  and  Hall.  This  centre 
formed  by  a  passage  leading  into  the  inner  courtj  displays 
four  lofty  three-quarter  columns  of  the  Italian  Doric,  well 
proportioned  and  massive,  holding  up  an  entablature  and 
pediment ;  the  tympanum  of  which  is  filled  with  emblematic 
sculpture  in  high  relief/' — 1l  Cortbg.  Remark,  immediately 
over  the  passage,  that  cupola  above  the  turret,  of  singularly 
elegant  form  and  delicate  proportions,  ornamented  by  pairs 
of  detached  Ionic  columns,  projecting  diagonally.  (E^ar 
continues,)  ^^  The  Chapel  and  Hall  on  each  side  display  a 
series  of  tall  round-headed  windows,  with  a  Doric  pilaster 
between  each,  supporting  the  frieze  and  entablature  of  that 
order,  with  a  handsome  balustrade  above. 

''  Around  the  east,  west,  and  30uth  sides  of  this  quadrangle 
is  carried  a  lofty  piazza,  the  arehes  of  which  are  supported 
by  square  rusticated  pillars.  Chambers  occupy  the  west  and 
east  sides  of  this  quadrangle,  as  also  the  two  extremities  of 


QUEEN'S  COLLEGE. 

the  screen  above  described/'  At  one  of  the  arches  here. 
All  Sod's  tower  presenting  itself  to  view^  on  a  sadden^  the 
whole  company  were  so  agreeably  astonished^  that  they  stood 
a  long  time  admiring  it. 

Falk.  The  whole  of  the  present  structure  is  contained 
in  a  parallelogram  of  300  feet  by  220,  divided  into  two 
unequal  courts  by  the  Chapel  and  Hall  above  mentioned,  and 
from  High  Street^  by  its  noble  screen.  Above  the  open 
arcade  on  the  west  are  two  stories,  consisting  of  the  common- 
room,  and  with  a  spacious  gallery  communicating  with  the 
Hall,  also  apartments  for  the  students  and  fellows — the  eastern 
being  allotted  (for  chambers)  to  the  rest  of  the  Society. 

The  architect  of  this  Collegiate  Palace  was  Hawks- 
moor.  The  first  stone  of  this  magnificent  building,  alto- 
gether the  finest  at  Oxford,  was  laid  in  171O,  but  the 
whole  was  not  completed  in  less  than  forty-nine  years* 
Eighteen  years  after,  the  interior  of  the  entire  western  side 
was  consumed  by  fire.  But  the  generous  emulation  of  those 
who  had  been  educated  here,  readily  restored  it  to  its 
present  state,  as  if  no  such  accident  had  happened. 

(Edgar  continues  to  read.)  ''The  Inner  Court  130  by 
ninety  only,  is  occupied  by  chambers,  on  the  north,  east, 
and  southern  sides.  The  whole  western  side  is  taken  up  by 
a  fine  and  highly  ornamented  structure  of  the  Corinthian 
order.  This  is  the  Library.  The  collection  in  this  Library 
is  very  strong  in  books  of  Heraldiy.'' — Falk.  Observe  the 
portraits,  in  those  two  ancient  paintings  of  Henry  IIL  and 
Cardinal  Beaufort. — ^II  Cortbg.  The  Black  Prince  is  said  to 
have  been  of  this  College :  and,  certainly,  Henry  V.  who 
occupied  the  rooms  over  the  great  eastern  gate  opposite  St. 
Edmund's  hall.  A  strong  corroboration  of  this,  (for  the 
curious  world  are  always  for  putting  a  man  to  the  proofs  of 
his  title,  when  he  claims  a  higher  honour  than  ordinary)  may 
be  drawn  from  a  prevailing  custom,  time  out  of  mind,  for 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

the  bursar  to  present  to  each  member  of  the  societj,  a  needk 
and  thready  with  thb  accompanying  injuncUon ;  '^  Take  this 
and  be  dirifty/'  One  day  Henry  V.  having  been  reprimanded 
by  his  fiither  for  idleness,  extravagance,  and  for  assodatiog 
with  bad  company,  paid  a  dutiful  visit  to  the  king,  cohered 
with  a  mantle  or  cloak,  full  of  eyelet-holes,  and  haring  i 
needle  and  thread  hanging  at  each  of  them. 

Ladt  G.  He  was  very  fond^  too,  of  St.  Crispin's  day;  it 
is  a  good  moral  to  shoemakers,  tailors,  and  sempstresses. 

Falk.  And  to  scholars  and  authors  also  ?  We  knov 
that  modem  books  are  made  now  with  a  pair  of  scissais,  shreds 
of  parchment  and  packthread. — II  Cortbg.  The  scissan 
used  to  be  the  attribute  of  the  Fates.  In  modem  times  thej 
are  never  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Muses.  It  is  a  fact,  that  a 
publisher  will  undertake  now,  to  furnish  a  whole  libraiy  hj 
contract ;  just  as  a  government  army-tulor  would  clothe  a 
whole  regiment  at  once. 

Tliis  Hall  to  which  strangers  are  taken  to  see  the  colle- 
gians at  dinner,  is  a  handsome  well-proportioned  room,  is 
well  ornamented,  with  a  finely  arched  roof,  and  is  fall  of 
pictures.  At  the  western  extremity  is  an  opening  intended 
for  an  orchestra,  communicating  with  a  gallery  over  the  wes- 
tern arcade  of  the  principal  quadrangle. 

Ladt  G.  Well,  all  this  is  accurate.  I  like  well,  too,  these 
portraits  here  of  Edward  III.  and  IV.  Philippa,  Henry  V. 
Charles  I.  and  II.  with  their  queens. 

Falk.  Thb  portrait  b  one  of  the  founder  Egglesfidd  of 
course ;  who  happening  to  be  a  Cumberland  man,  at  that 
time  a  border  county,  full  of  national  feuds,  (of  course  bar- 
barous), made  thb  foundation  for  such  natives  of  that  coootfi 
and  Westmoreland,  the  adjoining  one,  as  could  be  redaimed 
and  civilbed. — II  Cortbg.  They  say  that  these  are  become 
the  most  civilized  of  any  we  have  at  present. 

Falk.  In  the  library  is  a  valuable^  series  of  coins 


QUEEN'S  COLLEGE. 

Dumismatical  books. — II  CoRTBOa  Since  the  introdaction 
of  paperHDQoney^  such  books  are  necessary  to  give  us  an  idea 
what  kind  of  a  coin  that  was,  called  a  guinea  ? 

Edgar.  There  are  some  odd  customs  here ;  one  of  them , 
that  not  only  the  students  shall  be  summoned  to  dinner  by 
sound  of  trumpet,  but  that  when  mustered,  instead  of  sitting 
down  like  any  other  rational  creatures  to  eat,  they  are  to  kneel 
down  on  one  side  of  the  table,  while  the  fellows  arranged  on 
the  other  side  of  the  table  in  scarlet  robes,  propound  to  them 
questions  in  philosophy. — ^II  Cortbo.  However,  this  is  a 
lesson  of  practical  abstinence  at  least.  The  Fellows  in  doing 
this,  must  they  remain  fasting  likewise  ?  If  so,  I  think  it  a 
very  good  custom,  since  it  is  not  likely  that  the  dispute  will 
grow  very  warm,  while  the  dishes  are  cooling.^-EDGAB.  I 
8i]q>pose  this  is  the  origin  of  what  are  called  graces  at  Col- 
lege.— ^Falk.  If  both  parties  are  fasting,  it  might  lead  to  a 
compromise  of  all  difficult  parts  of  the  argument,  the 
hones  of  it,  at  least. — II  Corteg.  The  custom  may  be  traced 
to  the  borderer's  horn  :  whereby  followers  were  made  to  be 
ever  on  the  alert,  to  dine  standing,  to  study  even  while  they 
are  eating, — ^Edoar.  And  to  sleep  like  hogs  in  armour. 

Edgar.  This  reminds  me  of  the  custom  on  Christmas 
day,  once  very  common  over  England  on  festival  days,  now 
retained  only  in  this  College.  A  boar's  head,  boiled  or  roasted, 
is  brought  up  in  a  great  charger,  covered  with  bays  or  laurel, 
rue  or  rosemary,  having  an  apple  in  -his  mouth.    Among 
the  gentry  in  the  seventeenth  century,  a  lemon  was  substi- 
tuted for  an  ^ple.    The  manciple  brings  this  up  to  the 
high  table,  accompanied  by  a  taberdar,  a  title  derived  from 
the  tabardium,  a  short  cloak  without  sleeves,  open  at  both 
sides,  with  a  square  collar  winged  at  the  shoulders ;  he  then 
sings  a  song,  which  I  would  repeat,  but  I  fear  your  patience 
would  not  wait  to  hear  it  out.  He  refectory  all  join  in  chorus. 
1l  CoRTBo. .  This  custom  relates  to  the  student  who 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

choked  a  boar  by  cnunming  Aristotle  down  hb  throat.  In 
revenge  the  boar  now  chokes  the  studenty  withoot  having 
recourse  to  his  Aristotle. 

Falk.  With  laudable  allusion  to  this  custom  it  is,  no 
doubt,  that  Sir  Robert  Newdigate  has  presented  this  College 
with  a  fine  cast  in  plaster  of  Puris,  of  the  Florentine  boir. 

This  is  the  famous  drinking-horn^  or  Wassayl-cup  of 
Queen's,  In  Bamaby's  Itinerary,  Mr.  Bradthwaiie  has 
given  an  imperfect  drawing  of  this  vessel;  bat  bb  reniaib 
upon  it  are  full  of  infeelllgence,  '^  It  was  presdited  to  tbe 
College  by  Philippa, .  Queen  of  Henry  }  (Edward  ?)  tbe 
third :  and,  according  to  tradition,  served  to  convey  a  rtr 
luable  manor  in  Dorsetshire.''  It  contains  two  quarts,  Win- 
chester measure^  and  is  still  used  very  frequently  ongowfiei, 
and  at  festivals.    Wasseyl  is  inscribed  on  it  in  black  letter. 

Ml¥,  How  richly  ornamented  with  gold  it  is  ! — ^Lady  G. 
The  substance  of  the  horn  is  almost  as  transparent  as  aoj 
tortoise-shell. — ^Falk.  The  eagle  on  the  top  of  the  lid  is 
hollow. — JElv.  Is  that  the  head  of  a  leopard  curved  roond 
to  the  body  of  the  horn,  in  the  act  of  snarling  ? — ^Falk.  Ya, 
or  some  other  heraldic  animal.  Ladt  G.  It  is  not  only  tarncd 
but  it  is  twitted  to  the  rights  in  Mr.  Bamaby's  sketch. 
There  is  an  inscription  on  the  three  circular  bands;  in  each 
band  it  is  repeated  three  times. — ^Edgar.  This  shews  that  the 
toast  of  three  times  three  is  a  national  custom,  agreeable  to 
the  laudable  practice  of  our  good  old  Saxon  forefadien. 
— ^Fai«k.  Dr.  Milner,  in  the  j^rchieohgia,  vol.  xL  says, 
this  cup  was  placed  on  the  Abbot's  table  in  the  great  monas- 
teries, to  be  circulated  at  his  discretion  among  the  company, 
and  yclept  the  grace  cup,  or  poculum  caritaiis. — ^II  Cob- 
TBG.  I  suppose  the  good  abbot's  charity,  began,  usually  at 
home. — ^Ladt  G.  And  finished  where  it  began. — ^Falk* 
Yes,  I  suppose  he-  saluted  it  again  at  parting.  Dr.  Milan 
notices  the  usage  among  the  Greeks  and  Romans  at  their 


«     » 


\u- 


BJunHiKnKG  nnoiRH. 


E 


QUEBN'S  COLLEGE. 

feasts,  as  well  as  at  their  sacrift^es^  to;  drink  wine  out  of  the 
same  vessel,  with  certain  particfdM|lnrein<niies  and  forms  of 
speech**— Edgar.  It  is  minntelnUik^  with  the  Molennia 
verba  in  A^gil.— Il  Cortbg.  Dr.  Milner  gravely  adds,  that 
this  custom  of  drinking,  and  plentifully  too,  was  not  at  all 
diminished  by  the  introduction  of  Christianity. — ^Falk.  That 
is  one  point,  I  fancy,  in  which  the  P&gans  and  Christians 
agree.  Milner  adds,  that  a  finer  kind  of  bread,  upon  extra- 
ordinary occasions,  provided  to  accompany  the  Wassayl 
bowl,  was  called  Wassel  bread.  fFoM  heil  in  Saxon,  you 
know,  means  your  health* 

Ladv  6.  Mr.  Braithwaite  pronounces  this  cup  matchless ; 
it  is  as  beautiful,  as  it  is  of  a  size  uncommon.  That  golden 
thread  or  ligament,  is  merely  to  connect  the  claws  together, 
which  were  not  webbed,  I  suppose^  by  nature  ? — ^II  Cortbg. 
It  was  to  remind  the  eagle-eyed  guests  that  they  were  to 
drink  like  ducks.  I  have  heard  of  long  narrow  drinking 
cnips,  once  in  use  for  a  single  draught,  denominated  a  long 
and  a  short  conscience. — ^Edgar.  I  am  sure  this  conscience 
is  long  enough,  for  it  measures  about  one  foot  eight  inches 
high ;  it  is  a  spanking  one  in  its  breadth  too,  for  its  circum- 
ference at  the  mouth  is  one  foot  three  inches. 

Il  Cortbg.  The  long  conscience  held  three  pints,  and 
the  short  /wo.— Falk.  The  Wassayl  bowl  went  from  lip  to 
lip  without  replenishing.  But  the  horn  was  probably  a 
pledge  filled  for  every  guest,  to  be  emptied  without  breath- 
ing by  the  way,  or  spilling,  according  to  the  tippling  law  in 
some  places  for  drinking  a  yard  of  ale. 

Edgar.  These  eagle  legs  that  support  the  cup,  shew  the 
meaning  of  the  word  '<  supporters,"  in  heraldry,  since  a 
shield,  like  any  cup,  vase,  or  table,  cannot  stand  of  itself. 
Among  the  ancients,  the  shield  was  suspended  on  a  pale,  a 
lance,  or  on  a  tree :  as  at  the  Roman  triumph. — ^II  Cortbg. 
Dr.  Miln»  thinks  the  peg-tankard,  too,  was  a  Wassayl-cup. 

o2 


DIALOGUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

EoGAm.  But  he  fiMngets  that  the  wassayl  cap  was  to  be 
emptied  in  one  anmeasured  dnnglit.  In  the  peg^tankaid, 
joa  could  see  also  to  the  bottom,  which  yon  cannot  jn  t 
horn  of  this  shape,  so  that  pegs  were  useless. 

Falk.  These  pegs  serving  to  measnie  the  diangfat.  The 
dnutghisman  was  to  drink  not  below  a  certain  p^,  diat  is, 
to  nse  a  parliamentary  phrase  in  all  monqr  grants,  to  drink 
a  siOBi  110^  cwMMltfig  the  limits  of  a  certain  peg.  This  might 
liave  been  the  meaning  of  the  popolar  phrase,  *'  you  are  a 
fcg  too  low,"  or  a  cnp  too  low. — Ijl  Cortbg.  Tlintis,  with 
a  retrospective  meaning,  I  suppose,  that  too  much  had  been 
drunk  oAvw^,  leaviog  too  litde  for  present,  and  JiUun 
consumption. — Edqar.  Which  may  apply  to  parliamentaiy 
grants  likewise. 

(It  was  h«re  politely  pointed  out  to  them,  by  a  gentle- 
man of  Queen's,  that  the  word  Wasseyl  is  again  repeated 
three  times  on  the  lid  :  making  in  the  whole  twelve  times.) 
Edgar.  This  ccmfirms  to  the  account  given  in  the  glossary  to 
the  £xmoor  dialect :  fPat$ail,  ^'  a  drinking  song,  sung  on 
twelfth  day  eve,  (by  the  country  people)  thiowiiig  toast  at 
the  same  time  to  the  apple  trees  in  order  to  have  a  fruitful 
year,  a  relic  apparently,  of  the  heathen  sacrifice  to  Pomona." 
A  twelfth  cake,  called  anciently  the  bean  cak^  (from  hav- 
ing one  or  more  beans  in  it,)  accompanied  this  ceremony. 
— Laot  G.  One  or  more  phans  I  think  a  good  substitute 
for  the  bean— Falk.  And  our  Pythagorean  countrymen 
certainly  do  abstain  fiom  eating  any  beans  for  that  one  night 
at  least— Ijl  Cortbg.  But  a  pea  as  well  as  a  bean  was  put 
into  the  cake. — Sxw.  For  tiiis,  has  been  substituted  the 
currant,  and  hence,  periiaps  our  plum-pudding. — Falk. 
Hkrrickb  in  his  Hteperidti,  notices  the  custom  thus : 

Where  Bean  is  the  king  of  the  iport  heie  { 

Bendes  ye  mast  know. 

The  Pea  alio, 
Mait  revel  as  Qaeene  in  the  coart  here. 


QUEEN*S  COLLEGE. 

To  the  baie  from  the  brinks 
A  health  to  the  King  and  the  Qaeene  here, 
GiTe  then  to  the  King, 
And  Qaeen  WasiaUing,  &c.  &c. 

In  the  coUectton  of  ordinances  for  the  royal  house- 
hold, the  steward  when  he  came  in  at  the  door  was  to 
cry  oat,  three  times,  Wassel !  and  then  the  chaplain  was  to 
answer  with  a  good  song.  At  the  interview  of  Henry  VIII. 
at  the  Champ  d'or  at  Calais,  not  health  precisely,  bat  weal 
or  wealih^  that  is,  increasing  prosperity,  was  drank  to  the  king 
with  circamstances  of  the  greatest  solemnity,  by  the  French 
heralds  and  kings  at  arms. 

Il  Cortbg.  The  portraits  of  the  founder  all  give  him  a' 
costume  of  his  age  and  station,  viz.  that  of  a  priest,  in  a  cap 
and  rich  rochet,  powdered  with  fleurs-de-lys  in  loaenges, 
faced  and  hemmed  with  a  different  border,  and  fastened  on 
the  breast  with  aigrettes.  The  sleeves  of  his  black  gown  are 
faced  with  fur. 

Edoab.  The  Chapel,  though  of  the  plain  Doric  without, 
is  of  the  richer  order  of  Corinthian  within.  There  are  four 
windows  on  each  side,  three  at  the  circular  end,  or  apsis, 
all  filled  with  stained  glass.  The  ceiling  was  painted  by 
ThomhiU,  to  represent  the  Ascension.  Over  the  altar  is  a 
Holy  Family ;  and  under  it,  is  a  copy  of  Corregio's  Night 
Piece  at  the  Dresden  gallery. 

Falk.  Among  the  names  which  shed  lustre  on  this  Col- 
lege, were  Cardinal  Langton,  Sir  Thomas  Overbuy,  though 
a  deep  cloud  covers  his  most  tragical  story ;  Halley,  the  phi- 
losopher ;  the  poets,  Wycherley,  Addison,  Tlckell,  and  Col- 
lins ;  Shaw,  the  traveller ;  and  Bishop  Nicholson,  author  of 
the  Historical  Library.  This  book,  among  other  proofs  if 
it  wanted  any  of  its  excellence,  involved  the  author  in  many 
controversies.  His  character  will  be  found,  sajrs  Chalmers, 
illustrated  in  his  confidential  correspondence,  published  by 
the  indefatigable  Mr.  Nichols. 


DIALOGUE  UPOK  OXFORD. 

Edoab.  But  how  catne  you  to  pass  over  WiclJfie,  Heniy 
V.  and  Cardinal  Beaufort,  brother  to  Heniy  the  Fourth,  and 
son  of  John  of  Gaunt ! 

Falk.  Such  names  take  care  of  themselvei . 

Il  Cortbg.  The  character  of  Cardinal  Beaufort,  a>  Mr. 
Chalmeis  remarks^  though  n<rf  free  froni  turbulence  and  ambi- 
tiun,  has,  for  poetical  effect,  been  too  much  blackened  by 
Sbake^are.  "  The  tuvor,"  says  Chalmers,  "  in  which  he 
always  stood  with  the  Commons,  for  the  general  public  good, 
i«  no  small  eulogy." 

Ladt  G.  It  is  remarkable,  that  whatever  we  see  in  Shak- 
speare,  we  remember  strongly ;  it  effaces  every  other  impres- 
sion, even  historical  f«cts.-~lL  Cobtbg.  And  the  reason  is 
to  be  found  in  the  warmth  of  his  traoscendeut  genius,  which 
stamps  every  thing  with  a  force  most  creative  on  the  hu- 
man mind. 


OBXOIM  OF  TBMPXiB  ABOBXTBCTUB 


<^N^^'^>»^i»^ 


Lady  G.  Before  we  proceed  further  in  viewing  the  clas- 
sical part  of  Oxford,  and  have  taken  a  final  leave  of  the  Go- 
thic part^  I  should  like  to  have  some  explanation  given  of 
the  origin,  and  principle  otall  the  orders,  whether  Gothic  or 
classical  ? 

Ii.  CoRTEo.  So  much  has  been  said  and  written  about  Oo- 
ihic  architecture  in  particular,  that  we  are,  at  last,  arrived,, 
as  in  all  other  debates,  at  thb  stage  of  enquiry  ;  viz.  no  one 
can  tell  what  it  is,  or  whence  it  came  ?  Each  disputant 
applies  in  his  own  way,  the  same  term  to  very  different  styles. 
— Falk.  In  order  to  be  understood,  therefore,  I  have  only  to 
say  what  style  it  is  applied  to,  in  the  observations  I  am  going 
to  make,  and  what  style  it  is  not  applied  to.  It  is  not  ap- 
plied to  the  Anglo-Saxon,  and  the  Norman,  with  their  round 
arches,  and  short  round  pillars,  nor  the  Moorish  or  Saracenic, 
of  which  last  there  are  specimens  not  only  in  En^aod,  but 
at  Pisa,  and  elsewhere.  But  I  shall  here  apply  it  (and  only 
because  usage  has  irrevocably  attached  this  name  to  it),  to 
that  style  observable  in  the  Cathedrals,  say  of  York,  Canter- 
bury^ and  the  Abbey  Church  of  Westminster ;  the  charac- 
teristic of  which  is  the  pointed  arch,  accompanied  with  tall 
slender  piers,  clustered  with  mouldings,. while  the  interior  of 
these  structures  is  richly  adorned  with  tracery,  with  taber- 
nacle or  shrine-work,  and  their  exterior  is  strengthened  and 
adorned  with  deep  projecting  buttresses,  with  towers,  trellis- 
battlements  and  pinnacles. 

'^  In  this  style,''  (there  being  no  columns  properly  speaking 
nor  entablature,)  <' there  are  no  horizontal  lines  j  the  eye  of  the 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

spectator  glances  instantaneously  from  the  pavement  to  the 
vaulting." 

'^  From  the  multiplication  of  piers,  and  the  long  vistas  of 
vast  height  and  length,  in  proportion  ;  the  progressive  man- 
ner, too^  in  which  the  parts  of  the  fabric  are  revealed  to  the 
spectator,  an  idea  is  given  as  of  infinity,  of  supernatural 
power,  of  remote  antiquity,  of  mystery  and  obscurity  ;"  to 
which  last  illusion,  the  dimness  of  the  light  often  contributes, 
while  every  thing  being  indeterminate,  the  fullest  play  is 
given  to  the  imagination.    There  is  no  instance  of  such 
religious  abstraction  and  recueillemeni  caused  by  Temple 
architecture,  so  great,  as  in  this  style.    It  is  agreed  that  this 
style  was  introduced  generally  in  Europe  about  the  begin- 
ning of  the  thirteenth  century,  at  which  time  there  were  three 
professions  or  bodies  of  men,  possessing  the  greatest  in- 
fluence and  wealth,  but  which  have  since  merged  undistin- 
guishably  in  the  mass  of  society.    These  were  the  Free- 
masons, the  iewS)  and  the  learned  ecclesiastical  Architects 
or  designers  of  our  ecclesiastical  structures.    It  is  admitted, 
too,  that  these  structures  were  then  raised  upon  one  concerted 
plan  over  all  Europe. — ^We  have  before  spoken  of  the  Free- 
masons as  a  company  of  itinerant  builders,  chartered  by 
the   Pope.     About   the  beginniBg  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, they  were  sent  over  all  Europe  as  a  kind  of  missionaries 
of  church  architecture,  at,  or  shortly  after,  the  time  when 
Peter  the  Hermit,  led  forth  Crusaders  to  propagate  the 
ecclesiastical  dogmas  among  the  infidels,  and  armies  as  well 
as  pUgrims  ran  over  Palestine  and  the  East*    It  is  observ- 
able, too,  that  the  piers  have  at  what  is  called  th6ir  chapiters 
the  leaves  only  of  the  palm-tree,  or  of  some  other  tree,  flower, 
or  shrub  (the  Euphorbium  particularly),  indigenous  in  Pdes- 
tme  and  Arabia. 

I  mean  only  to  ofler,  without  any  system  of  my  own,  a 
few  suggestions  that  may  give  thinking  minds  bocasion  to 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

reconsider  these  subjects.  It  is  singular^  that  in  an  inquiry 
about  the  origin  of  temples,  it  has  never  entered  into  any 
one's  head  to  suspect  that  such  edifices  may  and  should  have 
some  connection  with  religion,  and  its  history  ?— Edgar. 
The  very  object  for  which  they  were  raued  1— -Ii.  Cortkg. 
But  this  is  common  in  all  controversies,  that  the  parties 
overlook  the  very  subject  and  gist  of  what  they  were  discuss*- 
ing. — ^Falk.  However,  if  any  one  really  wishes  to  go  to  the 
fountain  head  of  analysis  and  discovery  on  these  matters,  let 
him  only  peruse  a  modem  very  learned  and  classical  Essay 
on  the  earliest  species  of  Idolatry,  the  fFanhip  of  the  Ete^ 
tnenis.  Such  a  book  is  really  above  the  age  we  live  in ;  both 
ID  its  subject  and  execution :  it  is  a  pearl  thrown  among 
swine,  considering  the  taste  of  the  present  day. 

Ii.  CoBTKG.  Temple  Architecture,  grew  out  of  temple 
rites ;  whether  among  the  ancients  or  modems,  Egyptian, 
Grecian,  or  Mosaical,  it  was  nothing  but  a  religious  emblem. 
Ladt  G.  What  is  the  distinction  between  an  emblem  and 
a  device  ?— Falk.  An  emblem  is  general,  as  well  as  full,  ia 
its  meaning.  A  device  is  particular — appropriated  to  some 
individual  person,  thing,  or  subject,  country,  profession,  or 
family  -.  ^ving  some  cfaatacteristic  part  for  the  whole. 
Devices  ate  Used  in  heraldry,  as  well  as  in  fveemasoniy.-^ 
Edgar.  A&d  in  this,  emblems  and  devices  difler  from  an 
enigma :  this  last  expresses  one  thing,  and  hints  another. 

Ix.  CoKTSo.  The  Fieemasons  have  ever  affected  mystery 
and  certain  symbols,  having  ntfenence  not  only  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, but  to  various  legendary  tniditions,  which,  whether 
false  and  ridiculous,  or  not,  in  a  question  touching  the 
belief  of  a  particular  people,  is  nothing  to  the  purpose,  pro- 
vided they  did  believe  them.  Freemasons  had  die  sanction 
and  exclusive  confidence  of  the  ecclesiastics,  many  of  whom 
were  curious  m  architecture,  and  were  men  of  science  and 
invention  in  that,  as  well  in  all  other  parts  of  learamg. 


DIAJJOGVE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Il  CoRTBd.  There  are  cehun  practical  men  who  coq- 
found  meie  building,  for  use  and  ornament^  with  what  is 
called  Temple  Architecture*  No  doubt,  both  have  many 
things  in  common ;  for,  after  all,  building  is  included  in 
architecture,  which  must  have  bases,  plinths,  walls,  openings 
for  windows,  and  doors  :  in  some  situations,  piles  or  steps  to 
uphold  it,  eaves,  and  roofs  of  a  pyramidal  form  to  throw  off 
the  nun  or  snow.  Both  use  the  same  materials,  as  brick, 
wood,  marble,  &c» ;  but  beyond  these  points,  they  are  as 
essentially  distinct  as  any  useful,  can  be  from  any  fine,  art.— 
Ladt  G.  As  taste,  again,  is  from  devotion. 

Falk.  The  object  of  mere  buildmg  is  to  produce  a  cer- 
tain given  convenience,  or  security :  the  object  of  Temple 
Architecture  is  to  produce  a  religious  recollection  in  everj 
spectator.  In  building,  where  common  use  ends.  Temple 
Architecture  begms.  An  order  is  only  a  proseeniwn  in  stone. 
It  is  composed  to  produce  a  certain  effect  or  illusion  in  the 
memory  and  imagination,  something  in  the  nature  of  any 
mere  hierophantic,  or  sacred  exhibition.  One  is  corporeal 
and  physical,  the  other  intellectual  and  mental.  They  aie 
certainly  as  difierent  only  as  physics  and  metaphysics ;  as 
diflfisrent  as  the  ordinary  necessities  or  even  elegancies  of  life, 
are  from  the  interests  and  duties  of  religion ;  or,  as  the  cares 
of  this. present  world,  are  from  the  recollection  and  anticipa- 
tion of  a  past  and  future  one. 

If  any  man  can  be  so  ignorant  of,  or  prejudiced  against 
religion,  that  he  cannot  here  bear  even  the  nomendatnre  of 
religious,  or  Temple  Architecture,  the  very  subject  we  are 
upon,  he  is  not  in  a  condition  to  inquire  and  reason,  and^ 
therefore,  I  here  stop  with  hiin  in  Umme.  I  do  not  ask  io 
vain  a  things  as  that  he  would  enter  with  me  into  this  discos- 
sion.  And  though  some  persons  doubt  whether  any  order  of 
building  was  ever  appropriated  to  religion^  they  either  cuinot 
have  read  ancient  history,  and  particularly  that  of  the  Jews,  iff 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLB  ARCHITECTURE. 

they  ha?e  not  sufficiently  considered  it.  For^  at  first,  Tem^, 
pie  Architectare  was  nothing  else  but  a  stnicture  appro- 
priaied  to  religion  escbmvefy,  and  applied  (that  is^  profaned) 
to  no  other  use ;  whatever  may  have  been  done  since  in 
palaces^  and  other  new-iangled  structures. 

Among  the  Pagans,  the  regular  solid  bodies  (what  are 
called  the  platonic  bodies),  five  in  number,  were  afiected  as 
certain  emblems  or  symbols,  to  which  /^  (it  is  no  matter 
whether  abnirdly,  or  not — ^we  have  to  dp  here  with  historical 
fiictsy  not  criticism)  attributed  wonderful  mystery,  and  some 
secret  charm  or  magical  virtue :  the  triangular  pyramid, 
or  Jitra-hedron  in  particular;  the  Pythagorean  numbers 
(one  particularly,  a  cube,  into  which  Pythagoras  resolved 
all  his  tenets) ;  other  bodies,  also,  not  platonic,  as  the  solid 
sphere ;  the  prism ;  the  cylinder ;  uneven  numbers,  as  one, 
three,  five,  seven,  and  nine }  upon  which  I  may  remind  you 
of  the  ancient  adage,  ^  numero  deus  impare  gaudd"    We 
may  observe^  too,  that  religion  and  mythology  are  intimately 
connected  with  mytholo^cal  and  religious  structures,  or 
Temple  Architecture :  that  the  ancient  mythology  has  been 
demonstrated  to  have  had  so  intinwte  a  connection  with  the. 
ancient  astronomy,  that  almost  every  fable  in  Ovid's  Meta- 
morphoses   may  be  explained  by  elevating,  the  celestial 
sphere  to  the  latitude  o(  Egypt :  that  the  Egyptians  and 
Greeks  afiected  the  pyramid  and  pla9ie  triangle  as  religious 
symbols ;  but  that  about  the  twelfth,  thirteenth,  and  four- 
teenth centuries,  the  spheric  triangle,  formed  by  the  union 
of  the  plane  triangle  with  the  circle,  (and  which  has  a  much 
better  relation  and  aptitude  to  astronomy  than  the  Pythago- 
rean figures,  as  we  see  in  spherical  trigonometry),  engaged  the 
attention  of  ecclesiastics,  to  whom  all  learning  was  then  con- 
fined :  these,  it  is  well  known,  gave  the  plans  of  buildings 
to  Freemasons  to  execute,  and  humoured  them  in  their  attach- 
ment to  mysticism,  and  to  symbdical  and  enigmatical  dia- 


DIALOQUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

gums.  At  that  time,  a  ceremonial  of  more  pomp  was  revived, 
or  restored^  by  die  ecclesiastics  adheriag  more  closely  to  the 
Mosaic  ritual,  as  fitter  to  strike  the  senses  and  the  amagina^ 
tion;  this,  too,  at  a  time  when  they  were  directing  all  Europe 
to  crush  the  Jews  at  home  and  the  infidels  abroad  :  Thatit  is 
nsdess  to  refer  disputants  to  those  passages  of  Scripture 
which  describe  this  ritual,  and  also  to  events  to  which  it 
had  referenoe,  if  such  disputants  are  resolved  never  to  open 
the  Scriptures  at  all ;  but  that  if  they  do,  it  b  not  necessazy 
for  this  argument  they  should  believe  them,  that  is,  if  their 
minds  are  not  in  a  sufficiently  sound  state  so  to  do ;  but  it 
b  enough  that  the  Hebrews  believed  these  things,  and  that 
the  modem  ecclesiastics  of  the  twelfth  century,  (whether  they 
believed  them  or  not)  wbhed  to  have  them  believed.  That 
in  all  religions,  as  well  as  in  the  true  one,  the  ecclesiastics 
have  judged  it  necessary  to  use  symbols,  and  a  kind  of  hiero* 
glyphic  lore ;  that  temples  may  be  considered  as  hieroglyphics 
on  a  large  scale ;  that  in  the  ancient  sacred  learning,  the  Egyp- 
tian particularly,  it  was  usual  to  express  all  philosophical  and 
theological  notions  by  geometrical  lines.  In  their  reseaidies 
into  the  reasons  of  things,  the  ancients  imagined  (no  matter 
whether  rightly  or  not,  but  they  were  of  opinion),  that  the 
Deity  and  nature  affect  perpendicular^  parallels,  circles,  trian- 
gles, squares,  and  all  harmonical  proportions }  which  engaged 
the  priests  and  philosophers  to  represent  the  divine,  aod 
natural  operations  by  such  figures,  in  which  they  were  fol- 
lowed by  Pythagoras,  Plato,  &c. 

There  is  very  good  authority  for  saying  that  thb  use  of 
geometry  among  the  Egyptians  was  not  merely  scientifical  as 
among  us,  but  often  symbolical.  By  lines,  they  repre- 
setited  or  delineated  things  unknown,  as  they  used  them  for 
images  or  characters  to  preserve  or  commimicate  the  dbeo- 
veries  that  were  already  made,  (but  still  in  a  dark  and  mysti- 
cal manner.)    And  even  to  thb  day  our  different  professions 


ORIGIN  OF  T£MPLB  ARCHITBGTUR£. 

and  trades,  have  what  they  call  among  one  another^  secrets 
€9f  the  trade,  which  to  the  public,  as  unimtiated^  are  not  al- 
lowed to  be  disclosed. 

^^  The  Egyptians/'  as  Gale  observes,  ^^  used  geometrical 
figures  not  only  to  express  the  generatt<»is,  mutations,  and 
destntctions  of  bodies,  but  the  nature*  attributes,  &c.  of 
the  Spirit  of  the  Univecse,  who  di£Rising  himself,  as  they  ex- 
pressed it,  from  the  centre  of  his  unity,  through  infinite  con- 
centric circles,  pervades  all  bodies  and  fills  all  space.  But  of 
all  other  figures,  they  m.ost  afiected  the  circle  and  triangle : 
the  first  as  being  the  most  perfect,  the  most  simple,  capa- 
cious, &c.  of  all  figures;  whence  Hermes  borrowed  it  to 
represent  the  divine  nature." 

Il  Cobtbg.  The  ancient  geometry  was  confined  to  very 
narrow  bounds  in  comparison  of  the  modern.  It  only  ex- 
tended to  right  lines  and  curves  of  the  first  order  or  conic 
sections,  whereas  into  the  modem  geometry,  new  lines  of 
infinitely  more  power,  and  of  higher  orders,  have  been  intro- 
duced. 

Edgar.  As  the  ancient  houses  and  ships  in  size  and  sim- 
plicity, were  in  comparison  to  the  modem,  so  are  the  altitude 
and  complexedness  of  composition  in  their  temples  to  our 
cathedrals.  The  mouldings  of  the  Grecians  were  horizontal, 
and  tabulated  :  of  the  pointed  order,  perpendicular,  and  fol- 
lowing the  circumference  of  the  spherical  triangle. 

Il  Cortbg.  The  object  of  this  was  vastness ;  of  that  pro- 
portion ;  that  was  solidity  emblematic  of  the  terrqjirma, 
this,  more  emblematic  of  the  ethereal  heaven.  Jt  aimed  at 
expressing  height,  sprightltness,  mysteiy,  obscurity,  and  infi- 
nite power. 

Edgar.  There  is  some  analogy  between  the  ancient  tac- 
tics of  the  Greeks  and  their  aichitecture,  as  between  the 
modem  and  ours.  In  that,  the  combat  was  of  man  to  man, 
or  of  email'  tribes ;  in  this,  of  nation  against  nation,  and  a 


DIALOQUK  UPON  OXFORD. 

system  (as  in  our  ship-buildiDg)  on  a  colossal  scak,  of 
armies,  300,000  men  of  a  side. 

Il  Cortbg.  It  IS  remarkable,  too,  that  this  analogy  cxisu 
between  the  tactics  and  architecture  of  all  oriental  nations, 
in  ancient  and  modem  times. 

Falk.  The  ancient  buildings  of  the  Greeks,  were  em- 
blediatic  of  the  physical  world,  the  pointed  style  of  the 
spiritual.  Both  were  intended  as  an  offering,  or  monument 
to  the  Creator.  Those  were  to  record  the  expression  <rf  his 
attributes,  of  the  creation  and  generations  of  men,  of  the 
vegetable,  as  well  as  animal  world,  and  of  the  phenomena  of 
the  heavens,  of  the  changes,  accidents  and  destruction  of 
the  world,  &c.  But  the  primitive  Christians^  acquainted 
with  the  old  and  new  Revelation,  and  with  the  prcpAecieff  of 
the  former,  have  in  their  rites,  and  equally  in  their  temples^ 
meant  to  convey  some  dark  and  mystical  allusion  to  these 
subjects.  The  Hebrews  ako,  whose  ideas  were  much  turned 
to  this  life  or  world,  did  ever  make  allusions  in  their  rites, 
if  not  in  their  buildings^  upon  which  we  cannot  pronounce 
with  positive  certwnty— 

Ladt  G.  It  is  a  most  extraordinary  fact  that  no  trace  or 
monument  now  remains  of  their  buildings. — Mlf.  Which 
tnay  be  a  part  of  the  judgment  that  wandering  race  are 
labouring  under  ? 

Falk. — But  they  did  ever  make  allusion  to  the  great  event 
of  the  Deluge,  as  well  as  to  the  real  ark,  to  that  of  the  taber- 
nacle and  the  covenant. — ^Edoar.  Unquestionably,  this  was 
the  Jewish  symbol  or  emblem  of  salvation. — ^Falk.  The 
early  Christians  have  chosen  for  theirs  the  cross,  and  add- 
ed it  to  the  other.  But  in  all  ages  temple  architecture,  as 
well  as  temple-rites,  have  been  used  as  another  kind  of 
scenographic  record,  as  a  testimonial  of  hope  or  fear^  of  thanks- 
giving or  deprecation  of  the  divine  judgment,  or  anticipation 
of  something  to  come.  These  have  been  symbols  sometimes 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

tmitative  of  tbe  very  thing  meant)  sometimes  not  $  but  merely 
arbitrary  and  conventional)  or  mystical^  and  hieroglyphic;  they 
used)  according  to  circumstances^  emblems^  devices  and  enig- 
masj  all  three.  And  both  in  the  ornamental  part  as  well  as  form 
or  plan,  it  was  meant  to  indicate  the  history  of  religiouj  past 
and  futurC)  or  the  prophetical)  its  different  rites  and  epochs. 
The  circles  of  stones  at  Stonehenge  and  elsewhere)  in  the 
western  and  south-eastern  islands  of  EuropC)  the  most  an- 
cient religious  monuments  perhaps  in  the  worlds  more  au<^ 
cient  than  the  pyramids  themselveS)  were  meant  to  delineate 
symbolically)  the  boundary  mark  at  which)  according  to  uni- 
versal tradition)  the  waters  had  been  stopped  or  had  retired 
upon  the  flow  or  ebb  of  some  deluge  or  other,  spoken  of  in 
the  histories  of  all  nations.  These  circles  afterwards  applied 
in  a  secondary  sense  however)  as  the  land-marks  at  tbe  dis- 
persion of  nationS)  severing  the  different  tribes  and  provinces 
one  from  the  other.  The  pyramids,  (also  religious  temples» 
not  tombs))  were  emblematic  of  immortality. 

Ii.  CoRTBO.  The  three  Grecian  orders,  I  have  no  doubt, 
refer  lo  the  history  of  religpion,  or  possibly  are  emblematical 
of  the  three  modes  of  pagan  worship.  The  first,  or  Doric, 
may  have  been  dedicated  (in  the  primitive  worship  of  the 
elements  and  physical  univerae)  to  the  sun  and  earth :  the 
Ionic  to  the  moon  and  planets,  the  air  and  winds  of  heaven  ; 
while  the  Corinthian  regarded  the  night,  the  waters,  and  the 
shades  below. — ^Falk.  Or  they  may  have  been  records  of  the 
difierent  epochs  in  religious  rites.  The  Doric  order,  as  we 
may  see  by  the  sculptures  on  its  frieze,  of  goats,  and  bulls, 
and  sheep's  heads,  with  paterte,  &c.  is  a  memento  perhaps  of 
the  institution  of  brute  sacrifices,  offered  up  instead  of  that 
of  living  men,  virginS)  and  infants.  The  Ionic  scroll  may 
be  emblematic  of  book^-rites,  of  inspiration  and  prophecy, 
vocal  inusic  and  psalmody ;  as  the  Doric  triglyph  is  of  the 
bow  or  nerve  music  of  a  given  tone  or  mode ;  the  strings 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Iieing  supposed  stretched  across  those  ybromina  which  are 
iqdjcated  by  the  hollow  excavated  part  of  the  triglyph^  while 
the  six  gttttss^  below^  are  for  screwing  the  strings  to  a  just 
pitch.  The  Corinthian  b  symbolic  of  the  Eleusinian  mys- 
teries of  Ceres  or  Piroserpine^  (whose  very  name^  Ko^  as 
well  as  that  of  the  famous  city,  came  from  her  mystical  rites)^ 
accompanied  with  the  shell  and  metal  music  of  pulsatioD, 
Hcgeminani  Carybantes  (Bra :  and  is  accounted  the  most  en* 
thusiastic,  dissolute,  and  effeminate,  of  the  three  orders. 

The  fcaulicQlus^  which  is  repeated  sixteen  times  in  the 
Corinthian  capital,  behind  the  acanthus  leaves,  was  evidently 
theJSgyptian  lUuus,  from  wluch  came  the  modem  crosier. 
While  the  royal  sceptre  is  nothing  but  the  crosier  truncated ; 
and  then  surmounted  with  a  little  globe,  the  emblem  of  the 
Sun,  or  empire,  instead  of  the  crook,  the  emblem  of  eccle^ 
stastical  authority.  And  the  lUuus  itself,  the  prototype  of 
both,  is  taken  from  the  serpent,  the  oriental  emblem  of  life, 
wisdom,  health,  and  immortality.  The  acanthus,  or  palm 
leaf,  as  it  has  become  in  sculpture,  is  nothing  but  the  pen- 
dent plume,  which  in  the  ancient  Egyptian  hieroglyphics,  is 
repeatedly  seen  held  up  by  a  priest  in  the  act  of  adoring 
some  idol.  This  undoubtedly  had  some  mystical  allusion, 
the  true  key  to  which  is  lost  in  the  depths  of  antiquity.  But 
while  there  are  such  writers  as  the  Scholiast  on  the  Mygte^ 
ties  of  Eleusis,  we  need  not  despair  of  its  recovery. 

To  shew  the  connection  of  the  pagan  orders  vrith  the 
Pythagorean  symbolical  numbers  and  measures,  the  very 
heads  which  line  the  bandelet  of  fillets,  in  the  frieze  and 
acchitrave,  are  nothing  but  lentils ;  the  proportion  of  which 
in  number  and  weight  to  grains,  oboli  Creoles,  siliqusB, 
(the  Pythagorean  bean)  and  drachm,  lepta  and  minutes,  you 
may  see  in  the  tables  of  those  things,  making  a  regular  scale. 
WhDe  the  three  classical  orders  have  severaUy  their  fixed 
pvoporticms  like  the  modes  of  music  and  the  dialects  of  Ian- 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

guage,  and  probably  are  indicated  by  the  diatonic,  the  chro- 
matic, and  the  harmonic  scales.  Thb  matter  I  leave  to  mu- 
sicians who  understand  the  philosophy  of  their  art. 

The  excavated  parts  of  the  triglyph  are  two  triangular 
prisms  cut  out  of  a  cube,  the  interval  between  each  is  a 
hemi-exagonal  prism ;  the  six  drops  or  gutiis  are  tetra^he^ 
drons.  You  must  raise  the  spirit  of  Pythagoras  from  the 
dead,  for  the  hidden  meaning  of  this  symbol.  But  the  pagan 
orders  were  emblems  of  the  terrestrial  and  infernal  world ; 
having  lost  revelation  they  could  not  rise  to  the  true  celes- 
tial one.  And  the  ark  of  salvation  among  the  Jews  seems 
not  to  have  looked  beyond  this  present  world. 

As  to  the  mouldings  of  the  different  orders,  fillets,  torus's 
scotias,  ogees,  cymatium,  &c.  &c.  these  are  all  reducible  to 
simple  elementary  sections  of  the  triangle,  circle,  and  square ; 
and  are  like  the  seven  notes  in  music,  reducible  to  some 
proportions,  just  as  the  octave  in  any  gamut  of  sounds.  For 
musical  sounds  are  all  reducible,  as  we  know,  to  numbers. 
Like  notes,  these  mouldings  may  be  repeated,  lengthened, 
with  intervals,  may  have  the  accrescendoy  diminuendo,  and 
MosteniUOf  trilling,  &c.  elements  as  fit,  and  as  capable  of 
harmonical  proportions  with  architects,  as  the  seven  notes 
are  with  musical  composers.  The  exquisite  sculpture  of  these 
parts,  viewing  the  shaft  also  itself,  as  one  of  the  mouldings, 
only  continued  or  sustained  longer,  may  be  regarded  as  the 
melody  of  architecture ;  and  the  whole  assemblage  or  com- 
position of  the  order,  and  repetition  and  succession  of  co- 
lumns, as  its  harmony.  These  parts  of  the  subject  are 
matters  for  the  invention  and  taste  of  architects,  fiut  the 
elementary  forms  and  contours  were  all  religious  emblems, 
significant  symbols,  invented  by  the  pagan  bienurchs  in 
their  colleges. 

Il  Cortbg.  For  it  is  one  thing  the  reducing  to  musical 
combinations,  the  seven  elementary  notes,  and  the  disco* 

p 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

vering  of  the  elemelitary  notes  themselires.  The  Greeks 
took  the  elementary  parts  of  their  architecture  from  EgypC^ 
and  formed  afterwards  their  own  graceful  and  majestic  com- 
binations of  them.  But  among  the  EgypUans^  their  obelisks 
had  often  reference  to  science.  What  are  now  known  to 
have  been  astronomical  calendars,  were  mistaken  by  certain 
annalists  for  a  history  of  the  Egyptian  dynasties.  It  is 
known  that  the  great  pyramid  of  Egypt  was  so  far  in  the 
nature  of  a  sun-dial,  that  the  solstitial  snA  equinoctial  points 
of  the  year  are  exactly  denoted  by  it.  It  would  be  desirable 
that  some  f raveller  who  understands  astronomy,  should  ob« 
serve  the  bearings  of  the  pjrramid/  which  probably  marked  a 
different  meridian,  some  thousand  years  ago.  In  this  view 
an  observation  should  be  taken  of  the  aspects  of  the  Gredc 
temples.  The  Doric  ones,  probably,  may  have  been,  after 
the  Pythagorean  doctrine,  in  the  nature  of  astrometers.  And 
it  is  highly  probable  that  the  ciAom  or  ciiAa«,-— the  pillars  in 
Egypt,  were  at  first  round  piles  and  square  pilasters,  that 
served  in  the  nature  of  Nilomtters  to  mark  the  ebb  and 
flow  of  the  Nile  on  certain  particular  days,  at  set  seasons. 
It  is^  well  known  that  the  whole  fertility  of  Egypt,  and  even 
the  supply  of  water  for  ordinary  drink,  depended  on  the 
swelling  and  gradually  subsiding  of  that  river.  The  stated 
seasoti  of  this  phenomenon  was  registered  by  the  ooriespon- 
d^nt  heliacal  rising  or  setting  of  certain  stars.  At  the  in- 
crease of  the  Nile,  the  whole  country  became  a  scene  of 
religious  festivity,  accompanied  with  dances  and  other  rej6ic«» 
ings.  The  plant  of  the  lotos,  too,  expanding  in  its  growth 
with  the  river,  and  flowering  at  its  greatest  heighti  became 
a  more  critical  register,  and  hence  was  regarded  as  saered^ 
being  worshipped  as  such.  The  above  piles  were  raised  on 
stepped  pavements,  denoting  perhaps  the  successive  hetghls 
df  the  river :  while  the  crypt  of  these  monuments,  and  of 
others  in  the  pyramids,  perhaps  might  have  been  constructed 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

to  denote  the  depth  and  square  suporficieB  of  the  8ubtenra« 
neout  cisterns^  or  even  as  an  emblem  of  tliem.* 

Bdgar.  Perhaps  too  the  Grecian  column  might  be  con* 
sidered  as  only  a  prolongation  of  the  ancient  Cippi.  These 
were  hydiographical  and  astronomical  charts.  On  these  the 
first  maps  were  engraved ;  for  astronomy  and  hydrography 
preceded  geography ;  or  rather  taught  it  to  early  nations^ 
whether  mariners  or  shepherds,  in  traversing  vast  deserts  of 
sand,  orthe  pathless  ocean.  Cippi  were  erected^  and  much 
frequented  by  mariners  ;  offerings  were-  made  to  them^  they 
had  a  repository  or  treasury,  and  were  in  the  keeping  of 
priestSk  So  that  these  have  doubly  and  triply  a  relation  to 
the  histoiy  of  temples.  The  pillars  of  Hercules  at  Gibraltar 
were  nothing  else  :  there  were  correspondent  ones  on  the 
Atlantean.  side  of  the  Strait^  in  considerable  numbers,  as 
astronomical  charts :  hence  the  &ble  of  Atlas  supporting 
the  heavens  on  his*  shonldersu  Similar  columns  were  erected 
at  the  entrance  of  the  Nile,  and  also  at  the  Thracian  Bos^ 
phoros':  these  were  called  in  the  Ammonian  language,  Pam^ 
petty  and  hence  the  mistake  about  the  pillar  at  Alexandria^ 
being  that  of  Pompey  the  Great.  The  very  inscription  uponp 
which  shews  its  real  origin  before  the  time  of  Pompey. 

IIAniZOMENnN. 

Vl  CoRTB«k  As  to  the  Doric  triglyph,  the  intaglio  part 
of  it,  is  formed  visibly  by  cutting  two  triangular  prisms  out 
of  a  cube ;  the  space  between,  or  the  cameo  part,  is  a  hemi- 
exagonal  prism*  But,  it  is  remarkable  in  the  Jewish 
Targum,  notice  is  taken  of  a  very  ancient  emblem  com- 
posed of  two  equilatieral  triangles,  so  applied  that  eaoh  angle 
of  one  «hall  trisect  each  side  of  the  other,  respectively;  forming 
dx  equilateral  triangles,  whose  bases  coincide  with  the  six 
ddesofi  a^hexagon  in  the  centre.    Any  one  may  easily  make 

f2 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

the  experiment.  Now  the  two  triangular  prisms  above-men- 
tioned^  are  each  exactly  divisible  into  three  pyramids,  which 
form  the  identical  pendants,  (commonly  called  guttte^  be- 
neath all  triglyphs  without  exception. 

Undoubtedly  this  must  have  had  some  emblematic  allu- 
sion, according  to  the  Pj^thagorean  system. 

Those  who  find  a  resemblance  to  horns  in  the  Ionic  vo- 
lute (which  is  the  same  with  the  Corinthian  CaulicoluBj  only 
more  involved)  cannot  have  analysed — either.    The  volute  is 
extremely  narrow,  like  tape  coiled  upon  a  roller,  and  was 
manifestly  the  vitta,  worn  by  the  priests :  this  is  less  wound 
up  in  the  caulicobts ;  but  these  as  well  as  the  pretended 
acanthus,  are  to  be  found  adorning  the  very  significant  head- 
dress or  mitre  of  the  Egyptian  priests  and  their  idols,  in 
innumerable  hieroglyphics.    On  these  vt/te,  sacred  charac- 
ters were  inscribed ;  as  we  find  upon  unrolling  the  mummies. 
The  ancients  used  linen,  or  the  papyrus,  indiscriminately  by 
way  of  paper,  or  parchment,  to   write  upon.    The  very 
flutings  of  the  columns  are  nothing  but  the  print  or  mould- 
ing of  the  tapering  wand,  carried  by  the  Egyptians  and 
Oriental  Magi ;  a  bundle  of  which  truncated,  made  theyo^cu 
of  the  Roman  lictors.    Lastly,  in  the  Echinus,  of  the  Ionic, 
the  mundane  egg,  or  at  least  the  bulb  of  the  lotos  flower,  is 
set  alternately  with  the  pistils  (J^yy^x^ni)  of  that  or  some  other 
aquatic  flower,  resembling  the  lily.    These  technically  pass 
by  the  name  of  eggs  and  anchors.    The  bead  set  in  rows 
under  the  Echinus,  and  repeated  in  the  architrave  and  else- 
where, lining  the  bandelet  or  Jillei,  every  third  or  fourth 
bead  set  sideways,  was  the  leniU  (as  I  observed  a  minute  or 
two  ago),  or  rather  (as  lentil  means  sitiguaf  that  is,  the  shell 
and  all)  the  bean-pod  of  Pythagoras.    It  was  sacred,  and  was 
the  elementary  weight,  measure,  and  counter :  as  you  may 
see  in  the  tables  of  those  things,  making  an  exactly  regular 
iscale.    The  use  of  the  white  and  black  bead,  or  bean-pod,  in 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

ballottiDgt  has  been  continued  from  very  early  times^  down 
even  to  the  present  day. 

The  two  last  emblems  denoted  vegetation,  efflorescence, 
and  fructification.  As  to  the  notion  of  Callimachus  upon 
the  origin  of  the  Corinthian  capital,  it  has  not  proba- 
bility, even  for  a  dream.  Nor  has  that  other  notion  more 
sense  in  it,  that  the  volute  resembles  the  curl  of  a  beautiful 
girl's  head  of  bur.  It  resembles  it  certainly,  as  much,  as 
this  pen-knife  does — a  pail  of  water. 

Il  Cortbg.  What  is  called  a  rose  on  the  abacus  of  the 
Corinthian,  is  rather  a  dolphin  on  a  shell,  a  Triton's  conch  or 
shell  trumpet  with  two  mouths,  or  a  forked  tongue  of  fire. 
The  dolphin  among  the  ancients  afiected  musical  concords. 
Behind  what  are  called  the  acanthus-leaves  and  caulicoU, 
there  b  always  a  vase  :  the  original  of  which  was  supposed  to 
be  of  brass  or  of  hard  baked  potter's  clay,  closed  up  or  her- 
metically sealed  with  a  fiat  tile  or  plinth.  To  this  there  is,  no 
doubt,  some  dark  allusion  in  the  fable  of  Pandora's  box. 
The  capital  of  the  Doric  is  also  a  vase,  but  shallower,  like  a 
dish  or  patera,  that  of  the  Ionic  is  still  more  so. 

The  dentib  of  the  Ionic  entablature,  seem  to  have  been 
some  graduated  scale,  bearing  due  proportion  to  the  length 
of  the  intercolumniations  and  to  the  modules,  or  diameters 
of  the  shafts.  To  understand  the  Ekrhinus  you  must  view  it 
from  a  position  where  you  may  look  down  upon  it ;  for  the 
sculptures  on  the  cornice,  are  reversed. 

Falk.  The  Egyptian  foliage  and  fiutings  are  evidently 
reeds  and  other  aquatic  plants.  But  the  blossoms  and  leaves 
on  the  finials,  &c.  of  the  pointed  style  are  uniformly  those  of 
the  euphorbium,  or  some  other  plant  indigenous  in  Palestine 
aind  Arabia.  The  fruit  in  the  curved  part  of  the  erosier  at 
St.  John's  is  most  like  the  pomegranate,  or  the  apple  of 
Jttdea,  the  emblem  of  immortality.  The  author  of  the  idcria- 
trotts  worship  of  the  Elements,  has  shewn^  that  the  fruh  in  the 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

gaiden  of  Hesperides,  guarded  by  a  dragon  and  won  by  Her- 
cules^ alluded  to  the  same  emblem.  The  serpent  he  shews 
to  have  been  the  emblem  of  the  means  to  life^  healthy  and 
immortality ;  it  was  sacred  to  Minerva  and  ^scuhpius.  In 
the  above  crosier  the  staff  is  figurative  of  a  serpent  straight- 
ened into  a  line ;  while  the  head  above  is  supposed  to  be 
coiled  round  the  fruit. 

.Il  Cobtsg.  The  Grecian  orders  derived  from  Egypt  are 
nothing  but  a  lotus  vase  of  greater  or  less  depths  with  a. flat 
square  lid  upon  it^  a  mystical  emblem  of  the  cieatbn.  This 
must  be  held  up  on  something,  as  a  cippus,  or  a  longer  cylin- 
der^ itself  an  emblem ;  which  must  3tafad  on  a  cubic  pedestal, 
a  third  well<»known  emblem ;  over  all  was  tiirown  in  the 
manner  of  a  litter,  an  ark  having  a  triangular  roof,  with  its 
pediment  often  decorated  with  wings,  to  denote  the  Spirit  of 
God  brooding  over  the  face  of  the  waters.  Sometimes  these 
vases  or  capitals  were  supported  by  statues,  male  and  female. 
Falk.  The  subjects  carved  on  the  friexe  of  the  Doric 
and  Corinthian,  relate  to  religious  rites,  sacred  vestments, 
and  temple-utensils.  These  referred  to  the  astronomical 
calendar  of  the  Egyptian  priests ;  to  whom  all  learning  was 
strictly  confined,  and  involved  in  artificial  mystery.  By 
their  magieal  tricks  and  witchcraft,  they  persuaded  the  Egyp- 
tian people  that  they  could  regulate,  accelerate,  or  retard,  the 
seasons  of  agriculture  and  navigation.  Hence  the  ram  and 
the  bull,  which  are  carved  on  Doric  frizes,  were  used  as 
signs  to  denote  certain  points  in  the  Zodiac,  of  the  annual 
passage  of  their  god  the  Sun.  For  Dupuis  mistakes  the  deri- 
vative for  the  origin ;  these  signs  becoming  astronomical  was 
the  second  step ;  their  religious  sense,  which  he  makes  the 
$econd,  was  the  first.  The  crab  or  cancer  is  evidently  the 
Egyptian  Scarabatis.  The  six  guttse,  under  the  trigljrpb, 
might  have  denoted  the  equal  division  by  six  of  the  twenty- 
four  hours  from  mid-day   to   sunset,  from  that  again  to 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

midiughtj  to  sunrise  and  noon,  at  the  equinox.  The  guita 
on  several  ancient  hieroglyphics  are  eyidently  intended  to 
represent  particles  or  atoms,  drops,  as  it  were>  of  solar  light: 
the  flutings  a  pencil  of  rays  diverging  from  above.  In  the 
Doric  (unlike  the  Egyptian,  which  are  convex)  they  are  con- 
cave ;  and  might  have  been  intended  to  denote  the  impression 
on  a  column  of  the  enchanted  wands  of  the  priests  or  Magi, 
the  ministers  of  light. 

Il  Cortbg.  The  cubic  number  of  Pythagoras  was  216, 
and  six  (the  number  of  the  gutts),  is,  we  know,  a  perfect 
number.  There  being,  however,  but  twenty  flutings  in  the 
Doric,  and  twenty-^fouf  inthe  Corinthian,  four  is  their  com- 
mon measure ;  of  course  in  the  former,  this  common  mea- 
sure is  disposeable  by  five,  and  in  the  latter  only  by  six. 

Fai.k.  I  think  there  must  be  some  mistake  in  the  fol- 
lowing passage,  which  I  here  quote  from  a  mere  imperfect 
recollection ;  for  unless  you  transpose  the  words  Q^ixoi  and 
CEvdayo^Moi,  I  cannot  jmake  sense  of  it,  consistent  with  the 
history  and  known  characterof  the  Pythagorean  and  Orphean 

sects  *     O^ucoi  hat  ffVfJo^>Mft  lltf^ayofM  iia  iwoytfir  1a   OtMt  ^/AOtmir 

umiam,  which  I  shall  venture,  (after  the  above  transposition) 
to  render  thus:  the  Pythagoreans  conveyed  all  divine  in- 
strueiion  through  the  medium  of  language,  oral  and  written, 
as  well  as  by  numbers,  and  mathematical  diagrams ;  but  the 
followers  of  Orpheus  by  pictures,  images,  and  hierogly- 
pMcs.    Whether  I  am  right  or  wrong,  here,  at  least,  is  a 

crust  for  the  critics. 

I  throw  out  these  observations  desultorily,  not  being 
able  to  arrive  at  any  satisfactory  system ;  I  have  said  enough 
for  those  who  are  of  a  reflecting  turn,  to  stir  the  subject  a 
little  in  their  thoughts.  Your  use  and  practice-men  will  find 
they  have  not  sufficiently  considered  these  matters. 

Edgar.  As  to  Saxon  and  English  Architecture,  we  had 
also,  Romany  Danish,  Norman,  &c.~Falk.  Yes,  just  as 


DULOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

we  have  Dutch  cabbages,  which  no  one  calls  English  because 
they  thrive  in  English  gardens. — I  wonder  that  your  archi- 
tectural writers  have  not  gone  lower  down  than  the  Norman, 
and  giveu  us  a  Plantagenet  and  a  Tudor  style  at  once. — II 
CoRTBG.  I  am  not  sure  but  Dr.  Milner  has  done  this  very 
thing  ?  St.  Paul's  Church  at  this  rate  may  be  called  an 
English  order,  because  it  was  built  certainly  at  London,  at 
English  cost,  and  in  a  sober  good  English  taste.^ — ^Falk.  Aye, 
in  that  consists  the  real  merit  of  our  architects,  whether  old 
or  modem  Freemasons,  (for  Sir  C.  Wren  was  one) ;  they  had 
taste,  genius,  with  admirable  skill  and  economy.  But  these 
have  nothing  to  do  with  that  matter  of  historical  fiact,'  the 
origin  of  things. 

As  to  what  is  called  the  Saxon  .style,  it  prevailed  at  and 
after,  the  time  when  the  northern  and  middle  parts  of  Europe 
were  united  into  one  kingdom  under  the  Goths,  while  the 
southern  parts  were  under  the  Visigoths  and  Moors  of  Spain. 
In  Italy,  the  specimens  at  Pisa  have  all  round  arches  and 
pinnacles:  I  believe  also  dwarf  round  columns;  or  if  the 
columns  are  less  un-classical,  they  are  of  a  proportion  cor* 
rupted  and  barbarous,  as  Barry  has  unanswerably  demmi- 
strated.  This  has  been  confounded  with  the  pointed  style, 
and  might  without  impropriety,  perhaps,  have  been  called  by 
the  Italians,  Gothic,  Saracenic,  Moorish,  and  a  l*(trabesque» 
It  is  a  double  corruption  of  the  Roman,  itself  a  corruption  of 
the  Grecian  style. 

Ladt  G.  The  mere  form  of  the  pointed  arch  b  visible  in 
numberless  productions  of  nature,  as  in  leaves,  in  the  incli- 
nation also  of  opposite  and  bending  osiers,  sprigs  and 
branches  of  elm  trees,  &c.  But  this  is  not  sufficient  to  ac* 
count  for  the  origin  of  an  order. — Falk.  Many  conventual 
seals,  and  Saxon  and  Norman  pediments  of  door-cases,  had, 
for  a  device  or  emblem^  two  equal  circles,  having  a  common 
radius,  of  course  by  their  intersection  forming  the  summit 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  AltCHlTECTURE. 

of  a  spberical  triangle.  There  must  have  been  some  intention 
or  meaning  in  this  device  ? 

Il  Cortbg.  Mr.  Gwiit  has  informed  me  of  a  coin^  in  the 
early  ages,  I  believe^  of  the  Greek  empire,  whereon  is  the 
figure  of  a  building  having  the  pointed  arch. 

Edgar.  It  is  very  remarkable,  also,  that  the  episcopal 
mitre  was  first  generally  worn  by  bishops  at  the  time  we  are 
now  speaking  of,  and  that  the  very  form  of  it  is  a  religious 
emblem.  That  form  of  mitre  indeed  called  a  Jiara,  worn  by 
the  popes,  and  borrowed  from  the  Greek  emperors,  is  of  the 
highest  antiquity.  It  is  as  ancient  as  any  costume  we  are 
acquainted  with;  but  the  date  of  it,  as  an  episcopal  crown, 
is  coeval  only  with  this  architecture.  Now  it  is  but  reason- 
able to  infer,  that  as  all  crowns,  whether  civil  or  military, 
royal  or  imperial,  particularly  those  among  the  Romans 
called  the  civic,  mural,  the  obsidional,  naval,  the  crown  of 
oak,  olives,  bays,  and  parsley  (the  last  is  the  leaf  used  in  the 
ducal  coronet),  the  spiked  or  crenated  iron  crown  of  Charle- 
magne; .(which  ancient  coins  shew  to  have  been  castle- 
battlements,  as  well  as  the  cheveux^de-^frize  in  castle,  or 
CBXxvp  fosses :)  I  say,  it  is  reasonable  to  infer,  that  as  all  these 
crowns  bear  allusion  to  athletic  civil  sports,  as  well  as  to  naval 
and  military  architecture,  so  the  ecclesiastical  crown  or 
mitre  is  related  to  its  kindred,  that  is,  the  ecclesiastical 
one. — ^Falk.  And  the  form  of  the  mitre,  or  some  section  of 
the  cone  it  makes,  meets  us  at  every  step  in  Gothic,  or 
pointed,  cathedrals. 

But,  besides  the  argument  drawn  from  analogy,  on  viewing 
the  origin  of  the  Grecian  orders,  I  have  to  add  one  consi- 
deration more,  the  force  of  which  will,  I  think,  strike  every 
one  the  moment  it  is  mentioned.  If  we  take  a  kaleidoscope, 
we  can  produce,  ad  in/lmtum,  a  surprising  variety  of  the  most 
curious  and  exquisitely  beautiful  patterns.  These  are  each 
uniform  in  their  parts,  and  mathematically  true  in  their 


DIALOGUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

peoportioDS.  Yet,  b  their  uo  reason,  perhaps,  for  preferring 
any  one  of  these  patterns  to  all  the  rest  ?  If  there  were^ 
you  have  only  to  continue  stirring  the  kaleidoscope  to  prodnce 
another  and  another  pattern,  possibly  more  exquisite  and 
beautiful  than  the  foregoing.  But  how  comes  it,  that  in  the 
last  (or  Gothic),  style,  a  form  should  have  been  preferred, 
which  is  confessedly  less  simple  and  beautiful  than  many 
others  that  may  be  mentioned  ?  What  is  there  in  the  pointed 
arch  in  particular,  that  should  give  it  the  exclusive  rec^tion 
it  has  obtained  over  all  others  ?  that  should  make  it  be  sera* 
pulously  adhered  to  in  all  climates  alike,  by  all  cotempora- 
neotts  nations,  and  handed  down  to  succeeding  ages  ?  In* 
dependent  of  association,  a  mere  capricious  liking  causing 
the  preference,  the  same  fancifulness  would  lead  men  to 
depart  from  it,  giving  no  more  reason  for  the  second  choice 
than  for  the  first.  Nor  is  it  reasonable  to  imagine,  that  a 
style  of  architecture  is  fixed  upon,  by  a  whole  people,  as 
arbitrarily  and  lightly  as  a  pattern  for  ornament,  a  suit  of 
lace,  or  flowered  silk,  a  fancy  paper-border,  &c.  If  you 
appeal  to  artists,  who  are  the  umpires  in  all  matters  of  taste, 
they  will  tell  you  that  many  other  forms  are  more  beautiful 
and  simple  than  the  pointed  arch.  And  even  conceding  to 
it  these  united  advantages,  beauty  and  simplicity,  in  any 
human  production,  might  not  meet  with  general,  at  least 
universal,  assent.  It  appears,  then,  that  taste  alone  is  not  a 
principle  sufficiently  powerful  and  universal  to  control  the 
choice  of  nations  in  a  style  of  Temple  Architecture.  Some 
other,  or  greater  principle,  more  determinate  and  fixed,  less 
fluctuating,  local,  and  temporary,  is  required  to  account  for 
this  choice.— Il  Corxkg.  Not  to  mention,  that  this  is  the 
weakest  of  all  the  arches,  in- structures  of  stone ;  so  that  the 
beauty  of  utility  also  must- be  laid  out  of  this  enquiry. 

The  most  probable  opinion  is,  that  the  papal  ecclesiastics^ 
in  the  thirteenth  century,  employed  the  masonic  architects 


6RIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

in  reviving  (or  inveoting^  if  you  wi11)>  a  peculiar  symbolical 
form  of  church-building,  purposely  unlit  for  civil  or  military 
uses.;  therefore^  not  liable  to  be  profaned  to  such  :  and  that 
the  prototype  of  this  symbol  they  borrowed^  if  not  from 
some  tradition  now  lost,  from  the  history  of  the  Old  Testa- 
meat*  It  being  a  reasonable  analogy,  that  as  out  of  twenty 
parts  of  their  ritual,  (including  structures,  sacred-vestments, 
and  mitre,)  they  borrowed  nineteen  parts  from  the  Hebrews, 
-—they  borrowed  the.  twentieth  also* 

When  a  man  of  a  superstitious  turn  of  mind,  enters  into  a 
Gothic  Cathedral  (that  is,  of  the  pointed  order),  a  fabric  em- 
blematical, as  it  is,  of  the  highest  metaphysical  and  mystical 
truths,  how  must  he  be  affected  by  the  scene  around  him, 
which  has  an  expression  of  something  supernatural  ?   The 
painted  windows,  haunted  with  apparitions ;  lamp  and  taper- 
light ;  music,  with  a  numerous  choir ;  the  gorgeous  tapestry, 
plate,  and  vestments  of  the  priesthood,  all  taken  point  for  point 
from  the, old  mosaic  ceremonial;  the  imposing  stage-efiect 
of  dignified  ecclesiastics,  having  several  assistants,  going 
throngk  the.cesemony ;  the. burning/ of  costly  incense ;  the 
solemn  eloquence  of  .the  pulpit — all  the  fine  arts  put  in  con- 
tribution— ^pictures  bytbetfirst  mastei's,  shrines,  and  statues : 
having  heard^.too,  the  preceding  vespers  uttering  those  notes 
of  J  preparation  ! — ^when  you  add  to  all  these  the  great  actum 
supposed  to  be  going  on  at  their. high  mass;  curiosity  strained 
to  the  highest  pitch;  anxiety  what  is  to  follow — ^and  at  length 
the  eleitttiQD.of  the  host — announcing  to  a  congregation^ 
breathless  with  suspense,  the  consummation  of  a  miraele,  at 
which  the.  wholcf  people  (all  down  on  their  knees,  not  daring  to 
look  up,  being,,  as  it  were,  annihilated  in  the  presence  of  the 
Trinity :  I  say,  when  we  put  together  all  these  associatkms, 
we  must  allow  that  Ecdesiastical  Architecture  here,  at  once, 
assembles  together  every  thing  tibat  can,  through  the  senses 
and  imagination,  affect  our  judgment,  and  overpower  our 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

belief^  converting  what  is  a  mere  emblem^  or  symbol,  into  a 
reality ;  and  what  is  only  a  memorial  of  some  past,  or  a  figure 
of  some  future  event,  into  a  change  of  substance  and  a 
present  Deity.  The  spheric  triangle,  the  emblem  of  salva- 
tion, is  the  elementary  form  that  pervades  every  thing,  not  the 
windows  and  doors  only,  but  the  vaultings  and  aisles. 
Dr.  Milner  observes  well,  that  all  the  subordinate  parts  of 
the  architecture  converge  to  the  choir  and  sanctuary  as  their 
centre :  and  further,  that  all  the  members  are  referable  to 
the  characteristic  archs  Certainly  there  is  no  scenographic 
efiect  produceable  by  architecture  equal  to  this  one  (almost 
magical),  which  is  effected  by  the  Gothic  style,  as  we  must 
ever  now,  from  ustxge,  continue  to  call  it. 

Il  Cortsg.  One  idea  of  Dr.  Milner  is  philosophical 
enough ;  that  all  the  members  and  appurtenances  of  the 
pointed  style,  grew  by  degrees  out  of  the  pointed  arch,  its 
true  characteristic.  The  origin  of  these,  therefore,  is  not  to 
be  attributed  either  to  accident  or  to  invention,  but  to  ordi- 
nation. 

Falk.  On  this  subject  of  ordination,  as  I  cannot  concur 
with  Murphy,  we  may  distribute  it  into  the  following  genera : 
1.  The  pyramidal,  or,  piano-triangular:  2.  Theobelbkal: 
3.  The  columnar,  whether  consisting  of  columns,  or  Cippi, 
and  tabulated  with  horizontal  mouldings  :  4.  The  Roman- 
arched,  triumphal,  and  domal :  5.  The  spherico-triangular, 
or  pointed-arch  style.  All  these  styles  are  generically  dif- 
ferent, however  variously  they  may  have  been  intermixed. 

But  there  is  another  way  of  distributing  the  orders  more 
agreeable  to  the  progress  of  nations,  and  the  philosophy  of 
the  fine  arts,  as  well  as  the  history  of  religion :  1.  The 
barbaric  styles,  which  prevail  at  the  rise  and  fall  of  kingdoms 
and  empires.  The  oriental  and  Egyptian  are  included  under 
this  head,  together  with  the  early  style  of  modem  Europe, 


ORIGIN  OF  TEMPLE  ARCHITECTURE. 

ip^rhich  ought  properly  to  be  denominated  Gothic :  of  tbis^  St. 
Peter's^  St.  Mary's,  and  the  Cathedral  at  Oxford,  are  examples. 

2.  The  castellated,  or  baronial  style  :  of  this,  most  of  the 
Colleges  are  specimens.  This,  however,  relates  to  civil  and 
military,  not  ecclesiastical  or  Temple  Architecture. 

3.  The  nominal  Gothic;  ifut  really  the  pointed,  or 
tabernacle  style  of  Arabia  and  Jndsea.  The  better  opinion 
is,  that  this  style  was  introduced,  or  revived  and  adopted 
universally  by  the  ecclesiastics,  the  fireemasons,  and  crusaders, 
at  the  be^ning  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and  that  it  is 
co*eval  with  the  Crusades  and  heraldry.  It  has  been  lately 
brought  to  notice  by  travellers,  that  the  church  of  Omar,  at 
Damascus  (or  Aleppo),  and  the  cloister  at  Mecca,  are  in  this 
style.  In  England,  the  grandest  specimens  are  at  Westmin- 
ster, York,  Canterbury,  Salisbury,  and  Ely ;  also,  the  choir 
at  Gloucester,  the  nave  of  Worcester,  and  the  facciata  of 
Lincoln  Cathedrals.  At  Oxford,  the  best  specimens  we  have 
noticed  at  Merton  College ;  the  roof  of  the  choir  at  the  Ca- 
thedral }  the  chapter-house  there ;  the  Divinity  Hall  at  the 
Schools ',  and  the  spired-steeple  of  St.  Mary's. 

4.  The  Italian  and  Roman  antique,  including  the  circular 
arch  and  cupola,  as  exemplified  in  the  Rotunda  at  Rome. 
Add  Peckwater  Square  and  Queen's  College. 

5.  The  Grecian,  or  pure  antique.  The  finest  specimens 
of  this  are,  or  were,  to  be  found  at  Athens  and  PcMtwhi 
There  is  no  specimen  of  tliis  style  at  Oxford. 

The  learned  and  very  philosophical  annotator  (before- 
mentioned)  of  the  Essay  on  the  mysteries  of  Eleusis,  observes, 
that  the  settiog  up  of  unhewn  stones  in  Greece  for  religious 
memorials  was  a  Pelasgic  custom  ;  and  that  it  is  worthy  of 
consideration,  whether,  what  are  called  theDruidical  circles  of 
stones  in  our  island,  were  not  tp  imitate  this  act  of  comme- 
moration by  the  Pelasgi.  Diodorus  Sicnlus  furnishes  a 
credible  tradition  respecting  the  origin  of  Termini  in  Samo- 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

adNCtf/MVf  iJ^fvffvia^  ff  >  w  ^xs^lov  nw  Ovh».**  i£i.F*  Translate  thit^ 
Edgar^  if  you  please  ? — II  Cobtbg.  Bat,  before  he  does  so^ 
I  must  tell  you,  that  the  vArioos  notices  in  ancient  histoiy 
of  a  partial  deluge^  from  which  the  history  of  all  the  Hnwnt 
world  commences,  was  nothing  but  a  corrupt  tradition  of 
the  universal  one  in  sacred  writ,  while  each  nation*  bdieved 
their  own  country  to  be  the  only  one  on  earth,  and  their  own 
fofefathers  as  created  on  that  very  spot.  Hence  we  haFe  stories 
of  local  deluges,  as  in  this  of  Samothrace,  and  like  the  stony 
of  Deucalion  and  Pjrrrha,  Uiey  supposed,  at  the  time  of  the 
deluge,  the  low  grounds  only  were  inundated,  by  which 
most  persons  were  destroyed,  but  not  all ;  that  few  (one  or 
two),  escaped  to  the  highest  summit,  above  which,  it  was 
necessary  for  the  supposition,  the  dduge  should  not  readi. 
Edcaa.  The  translation  is,  "  those  of  the  natives  who 
survived,  betook  themselves  in  haste  to  the  higher  places  of 
the  island.  But  the  sea  ever  gaining  upon  diem,  Aey  prayed 
to  the  gods,  and  being  saved  by  them,  they  set  up  stones  in 
a  circle  (or  round)  about  the  island  to  mark  the  limits  within 
which  they  had  fDUud  safety ;  and  built  altars,  on  which  tli^ 
sacrifice  to  this  day/' — ^iLCoaTSO.  But  the  truth  was,  these 
circles  were  imitations,  or  symbolical  memorials,  of  a  similar 
rite  previously  established,  itself  a  symbol  of  the  universal 
distribution  and  partition  of  countries  and  tribes  by  the 
Almighty,  after  the  Deluge,  and  before  and  after  the  db- 
psnion  of  mankind  at  Babel.  It  seems  there  has  been  lately 
brought  to  notice,  a  monument  of  the  same  kind  in  Fnuice ; 
but  it  covers  so  much  ground  in  breadth,  andthe  rows  there 
extend  to  so  great  a  length,  that  the  monument  at  Stone-* 
henge,  compared  to  the  French  one,  is  no  more  than  a  de- 
tachment, or  single  regiment  of  troops,  compared — ^to  an  army. 


Falk.  Tbis  was  the  earliest  collection  of  the  kind  ioEDg*- 
laod;  and  though  surpassed^  of  couise,  by  succeediog  onesy 
has  the  merits  as  some  one  observes,  of  bdog  a  precedent 
for  the  rest.  And  at  least,  the  donation  of  cchbs,  medals, 
and  manuscripls,  together  with  the  antiquarian  library  of 
Ashmole,  must  have  had  considerable  value  ;  since  the  Uni-« 
versity,  for  that  consideration,  agreed  to  build  this  fabric  as 
their  receptacle* 

'*  The  conection  has  since  been  augmentedj"  says  Chal- 
mers, **  by  that  of  Martin  Lister,  of  the  MSS.  also  of  Aubrey, 
the  co-adjutor  of  Wood ;  the  MSS*  of  Dugdale ;  and,  lastly, 
of  Anthony  a  Wood  himself.  Add  to  these,  the  collections  in 
natural  history  of  Dr.  Plot  and  Edward  Lloyd,  the  two  first 
keepers  of  the  Museum ;  of  Borlase,  the  historian  of  G>m- 
wall ;  and  tlie  curiosities  4»f  -  the  South  Sea  Islands,  given  by 
Mr.  Reinhold  Foster.'' 

The  iMsiilding,.  of  the  CorinthiaD  order,  was  by  Str  Chris-^ 
topher  Wren  j  and  is  singularly  admired. — II  Cortjsg.  It 
must  he  singularly,  for  na  common  observer  would  ever 
diisoover  what  there  is  to  admire  in  it.  I  am.'  auxe  I,  fev  one, 
cannot*  I  see  a  pordi^  to  the  east,  but  where  is  the  portico 
tbey  talk  of? — ^Fauc.  I  am  sure  I  dont  know :  I  could  never 
discover  it  either,  nor  the  beauty  of  the  rest. — ^Ladt  G.  I 
never  saw  a  more  dreary  structure. — ^EIdgar  &  ^lf.  Nor 
I.^*-LiA»ir  G.  But  there  is  one  remark  made  by  Mr.  Wade, 
whidi  gives  it  a  good  deal  of  interest,  not  knowing  whether 
his  observation  is  a(q)Hed  to  the  aeoommodation  withni,  or  to 
t^  architectural  beauty,  or  ugliness,  call  it  which  they  wiH, 
of  the  external  part.    ^*  Other  part&  of  this  edifice  stroagly 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

remind  me  of  those  stately^  or  rather  aDtiqoe-IookiDg  man- 
sions  termed  halls^  found  in  almost  every  parochial  village  id 
those  parts  of  Yoricshire,  Derbyshire^  and  Staffordshire,  into 
which  manufiictures  have  not  penetrated,  and  which  are 
inhabited  by  his  honor  the  sqoire/'  And,  I  think,  if  the  Ash- 
molean  Museum  were  inhabited  by  a  ghost — it  would  then  be 
in  character.  It  has  ccAns,  and  more  than  enough  of  sknUs. 

Ix.  CoBTBG.  It  is  sufficient  to  look  to  the  date  of  it,  1 682, 
It  would  be  singular  if  any  work  in  a  good  taste  had  been 
erected  in  the  age  of  Charles  or  James  the  Second.  So  pre- 
valent at  all  times  is  the  taste  of  the  Court,  that  Sir  Christo- 
pher Wren  is  not  the  same  man  in  their  reign,  that  he  was 
in  that  of  Queen  Anne,  when  he  built  St.  Paul's. 

Fale.  And  I  believe  he  built  St.  Stephen's^  Walbroo^ 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  or  at  least  in  his  taste. — 
II  Cortbg.  The  French  affisct  to  admire  it  very  much,  or 
rather,  without  aflectation,  they  prefer  it  to  any  other,  tor  h 
is  in  their  own  taste.— Falk.  I  never  heard  any  Bngliahman 
of  taste  praise  St.  Stephen's,  Walbrook. 

Mir.  But  let  us  see  the  Museum  itself,  which  contaiu 
the  kernel,  leaving  the  shell  to  critics  and  architects. — 
Falk.  Here,  however,  ia  a  crust  for  both  in  this  double 
model  of  Stonehenge,  by  Dr.  Stukely,  representing  the  present 
state  of  it ;  then  what  it  was  originally,  and  restoring  it. 
The  altar  and  inner  circle  are  of  green  stone,  which  could 
have  been  obtained  from  no  other  place  than  Wales,  Cumber* 
land,  or  Ireland.  There  is  a  rock  called  the  chair  of  ffildaie 
(in  the  county  of  that  name),  composed  of  this  identical 
stone. 

Mlv*  Here  is  a  tine  crucifix  in  ivory,  sent  to  the  Museum 
at  the  time  of  the  riots  in  1780,  in  London. — Edgar. 
How  comes  it  that  it  was  never  returned  ?  Observe  that 
sword,  presented  by  the  Pope  to  the  defender  of  the  faMk; 
the  handle  is  of  chrystal.--^FAidL.  The  Pope  thought  it  might 


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ASHMOLfiAN  MUSEUM. 

be^  one  day,  turned  against  himself^  and  he  wislie4  the  h^n- 
dlesy  at  leasts  of  his  opponent's  weapons^  should  b^  of  a  brittle 
material — timeo  Danaos  vel  dona  ferentes.: — ^Ii«  Cortbo.  Or 
periiaps  the  gift  had  a  symbolical  meanings  hinting  to  Henry 
that  a  sword  would  be  his  best  argument  against  the  rejEor- 
matioD^  and  to  leave  off  writing. — ^Fax^k.  There  is  the 
ancient  peg-tankard.  It  is  studded  inside  with  pins  like  a 
scale:  it  is  for  the  old  game  of  drinking  at  pins  or  pegs ;  the 
bet,  or  pool,  was  lost  if  the  drinker  drank  above  or  below 
such  a  ^ven  mark.  It  was  not  a  practice  of  temperance  or 
of  drunkenness,  but  a  game  of  '^  neither  more  nor  leas  i'"*  the 
mere  material,  beer,  having  no  more  effect  on  the  stomachs  qf 
the  players  than  on  the  barrels  from  which  it  was  tapped. — 
II  Corteg.  Or  like  the  game  of  leap-frog,  it  was  a  game  of 
leap- throat,  similar  to  those  one  hears  of  in  the  newspapers, 
when  a  man  undertakes  to  eat  a  leg  of  mutton,  and  no  more, 
at  a  repast.— 'Falk.  This  thigh  bone,  if  it  ever  belonged  to  a 
man,  he  must  have  been  at  least  twelve  feet  in  stature. 
Anatomy  informs  us  it  could  not  have  been  an  elephant's. 
— Ii.  CoRT£6.  It  is  clear  it  belonged  to  an  animal  qf  some 
kind  or  other,  the  species  of  which  is  now  extinct..  This 
amulet  of  Alfred  is  at  least  curious,  frojn  its  having  heM 
his.— Faijk.  The  picture  on  it,  Dr.  Hickes  supposes  to  be 
eiiher  St.  Cuthbert,  or  our  Saviour ;  while  Mr.  Wade  thinks 
it  as  probable  that  it  is  Alfred  himself. -*-Ii;  Cortbo.  Anjl.  I 
think  so. too — ^it  is  no  doubt  as  like  Alfred  as  it  is — any  pr^ 
else.  Tliis  triangular  chair  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  shews  that 
our  political  economists  have  not  rumfordised  furniture  •  9S 
much  as  they  might  have  done ;  for.  it  is  clear  that  three  legs 
and  three  sides  are  enough  for  a  seat,  after  the  manner  pf 
the  ancient  tripods,  so  that  the  fourth  skb  and  leg  may  be 
saved.  It  could  not  have  less  than  three  legs  and  stand  at 
the  same  timp.-^LAPT  6.  That  is  the  finest  profile  of  Charles 
I.  byVaop^dyke,  I  ever  saw.    It  makea  you  quite  femiUar  wjth 

a 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

-him  as  with  any  living  acquaintance. — ^Eogae.  This  Ma- 
labar manuscript^  on  oblong  slips  of  sopie  thin  wood  resem- 
bling box-woody  is  like  the  upper  sticks  of  a  lady's  fan,  or  a 
number  of  very  thin  flat  rulers  strung  together.  When  dosed, 
it  would  make  a  short  staff;  with  which  such  boxing  com- 
posersy  as  Dr.  Johnson^  might  more  conveniently  knock 
down  abookselier^  than  with  one  of  hb  own  folio  dictioDaries. 
Falk*  Thb  krge  magnet  of  an  oval .  shape^  which  supports 
a  weight  of  145  pounds,  was  given  by  the  Countess  of  West- 
moreland.— ^La0Y  G.  We  must  come  here  again. 

On  the  first  floor,  b  the  apparatus  for  lectures  io  experi- 
mental philosophy,  and  underneath  b  the  grand  i^spaiatos 
for  the  lectures  now  given  upon  chemistry. 


TBB  TBBATBE. 

Edgar.  I  thought  no  theatre  was  allowed  at  the  Uni- 
versity P^^Falk.  What  is  ordinarily  meant  by  that  word,  b 
permitted  only  at  certain  seasons ;  and  indeed  were  the  per- 
mission general,  or  unrestricted,  it  would  be  useless,  as  there 
would  not  be  a  constant  supply  of  good  actors ;  and  if  theie 
were,  there  would  not  be  a  sufficient  audience.  But  thb  b  a 
classic  theatre,  after  the  manner  of  the  ancient  schook,  for 
college  acts,  such  as  the  comiiia,  or  elections  ;  the  encamOj 
or  festivals ;  annual  commemorations  of  bene&ctors.  Some- 
times, too,  it  U  employed  for  select  oratorios,  or  sacred 
music. 

Fauc.  This  is  thought  beautiful.  It  b  built  after  the 
model  of  the  theatre  of  Marcellus,  at  Rome.  Its  diameter 
is  eighty  feet  by  seventy,  and  will  contain  4000  persons. 
There  is  a  cellar  underneath  for  the  books  printed  at, the 
University-press ;  and  on  the  ceiling,  .you  may  observe  the 
allegorical  paintings  of— Ii.  C!ortIm3.  I  wish  the  puntings 


THE  THEATftE. 

were  in  the  cellar  where  the  books  are.    It  is  the  true  light 
in  which  to  place  allegorical  painting.— Edgar.  I  un- 
derstand the   roof   was  formerly  much    admired;    when 
unsupported  by  columns  or  arch-work,  it  rested  on  the  side 
walls  geometrically— -II  Cortbo.  A  contrivance  well  under- 
stood and  practised  at  this  day ;  but  the  novelty  of  the  thing 
at  its  first  introduction,  aided  the  impression  caused  by  its 
simplicity  and  beauty. — Paul.  But  as  Mr.  Chambers  adds, 
the  old  roof  being  thought  in  danger  of  falling,  this  new  one 
was  put  up  in  1800 ;  the  exterior  of  which  is  less  happily 
adapted  to  the  general  style  of  building  than  the  former. 
The  design  of  the  theatre  as  it  then  stood,  was  by  Sir  Chrb- 
topher  Wren.    The  circular  apsis  is  towards  Broad  Street. 
As  to  those  talismanic  idols,  which  like  Gog  and  Magog  keep 
guard  between  the  theatre  and  Broad  Street,  (as  gigantic 
figures  usually  were  placed  at  ancient  castles  to  scare  away 
the  passenger),  we  have  already  thrown  out  a  hbU  what  to  do 
with  them.  And  there  we  leave  the  subject  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  iconoclasts  and  their  followers. 

This  side  opposite  the  divinity  school  b  a  fine  structure, 
with  its  Corinthian  columns. — Falk.  Those  statues  in  niches 
are  figures  of  the  Duke  of  Ormond,  the  then  chancellor  of 
the  University,  and  of  Archbishop  Sheldon,  by  whose  muni- 
ficence, the  fabric  was  raised  at  an  expence  of  aboutj^l  3,000. 
Mr.  Wade  speaks  of  a  light  and  graceful  turret,  that  arose 
out  of  the  old  roof,  crowned  with  a  cupola. 

In  this  theatre,  (according  to  whoever  it  was  that  wrote 
Mnnday  and  Slatter's  University  and  City  Guide,  &c.  1820), 
besides  the  above  uses  the  theatre  is  put  to,  it  is  the  scene 
^'  for  the  recitation  of  prize-compositions,  together  with  the 
occasional  ceremony  of  conferring  degrees  on  distingubhed 
personages.  On  these  occasions,  the  vice-chancellor,  proc- 
tors^ noblemen,  and  doctors  sit  in  their  robes,  in  the  northern 
or  semi-circular  part  of  the  theatre  on  elevated  seats ;  in  the 

q2 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

areaj  (or  pit)  are  masters  of  arts  and  strangers  ;  the  bachelors 
and  under-gradnates,  dressed  in  their  academical  habits^  in 
the  upper  galleries,  and  the  ladies  in  the  lower  ones. 

^'  Never  did  this  theatre  appear  with  more  splendour  than 
in  the  memorable  year  of  1814,  when  degrees  were  presented 
to  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  to  the  King  of  Prussia,  Prince 
Metternich,  Count  lACven,  Prince  Blucher,  &c.  At  that 
august  ceremony,  the  Prince  Regent,  and  the  King  and  Bm- 
peror  wei^  seated  on  superb  chairs  of  crimson  velvet  and 
gold  ;  their  feet  resting  upon  footstools  of  the  same.  The 
chair  of  the  Regent  was  surmounted  with  a  plume  of  feathers 
in  gold.  At  a  little  distance  below  sat  the  Chancellor,  Lord 
Grenville,  in  his  robes  of  black  and  gold ;  even  with  the 
Chancellor  on  the  right  sat  the  Duchess  of  Oldenburg,  the 
Emperor's  sister.  The  platform  on  which  the  five  seats 
rested,  was  carpetted  with  crimson  velvet.  The  numerous 
party  of  princes,  noblemen,  and  gentlemen,  who  accompa- 
nied the  royal  visitors  to  Oxford,  were  in  thdr  fuU  couit- 
dresses  or  regimentals ;  and  the  ladies  in  the  galleries  were 
all  dressed  in  the  most  superb  manner.  Eight  congratula- 
tory addresses  were  recited  by  noblemen  and  gentlemen  of 
the  Univeisity  ;  and  a  most  eloquent  Latin  oration  was  de- 
livered by  Mr.  Crowe,  public  orator,  from  the  rostrum.'' 

As  a'contnet  to  this  address,  I  have  to  mention  the  ftite 
of  Niohblas  Amherst,  author  of  the  book  called  Tebba 
FiLius,  a  title  and  office  ancientty  permitted  at  Oxford 
(during  the  SatumaKm),  to  $ome  juvenile  ontof  to  open 
his  mind  freely  concerning  the  powers  above*  Oar  auiliDr 
having  offended  the  God$  Ar  Oxford,  aHied  hhnself  with  Sir 
Robert  Walpole  and  the  opposition,  the  Titans  of  tliai  day. 
It  is  painful  to  add,  that  fawidg  won  the  victciry,  they  suffered 
Amherst  to  die  of  neglect. 


CAr3:JS"LA3Iit&- 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

Falk.  I  must  say,  that  I  was  sorry  to  obseire  those  beau- 
tiful couplets  of  three-quaiter  Coriotbian  colomns,  which 
adorn  the  base  of.  the  dome,  so  juuworthily  employed,  for 
they  are  harmoniously  moulded. 

Ladt  G.  For  my  part,  I  think,  the  dome  looks,  wben  near, 
more  like  a  pigeon  house  than  any  thing  else. 

Edgar.  And  the  rustic  basement  below,  with  its  dark 
empty  vaults  applied  to  no  manner  of  use,  I  thought  was  tbe 
menagerie  of  Oxford,  and  expected  to  see  the  lioos,  &c. 
through  the  grating. — Fajlk.  At  Oxford  matters  arererased 
according  to  the  idiom  of  the  place,  the;  lions  shewn  are  mt 
the  curiosities  and  raree-shows,  but  the  spectators.  Yw 
have  the  honor  of  being  the  lions. 

Mlf.  We  all  thought  it  never  looked  so  well  as  froo 
the  interior  of  All  Souls'  quadrangle,  the  western  piazza  of 
which  served  as  a  fine  basement  to  it  of  suflBcieot  piopoitioD, 
and  cutting  off  its  real  basement  from  our  view.  At  a  dis- 
tance, the  city  makes  its  basement. 

Il  Cortsg.  But  I  wish  they  would  fall  upon  some  cod- 
trivance  to  shave  off  the  lantern  at  the  summit,  or  to  block 
up  the  numerous  port-boles,  as  well  as  to  chip  off  those 
excrescences  of  heavy  buttresses  and  doughy  urns,  &c«  &c. 
The  four  sides  of  the  square  in  the  plane  of  the  external  walls 
of  the  Schools,  St.  Mary's,  Brazen-Nose,  and  All  SoulS} 
would  form  a  basement  scarcely  too  ample  for  it. 

Falk.  In  truth,  the  whole  structure  has  no  business 
where  it  is }  it  spoils  the  square,  and  the  square  spoils  it.  ft 
looks  as  if  some  of  the  Genii  in  the  Arabian  nights  had  bj 
magic  run  away  with  the  dome  of  some  veiy  laige  boildiii;) 
and  not  knowing  where  to  place  it»  they  flung  it  down  in 
Radcliffe  Square,  and  there  they  left  it.  It  is  certainfj  too 
near  the  ground  by  300  feet  at  least. 

Il  Cortbg.  It  is  140  feet  high,  its  external  diameter  b 
105  feet,  its  internal  100  by  97-    The  descripiknoiit^ 


THE  CLARENDON  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

Wade^  yoa  may  remember^  we  all  thought  enchanting.  It 
may  be  endured  by  moonlight,  or  at  a  distance  ;  but  when 
near  it^  should  be  favoured  by  a  thick  fog. 

'Bdgar.  Yet  the  author  of  the  Castle  of  Otrauto  was  in* 
finitely  struck  by  this  square  ;  he  expresses  his  delight  that 
no  private!  edifice  disturbs  the  grandeur  of  thb  his  favourite 
court.  And  as  he  had  rather  be  paradoxical  and  singularly 
wrongy  than  right  with  the  vulgar,  he  praises  this  square  as  a 
whole^  denying  any  extraordinary  merit  to  its  component 
parts. 

Ladt  G.  I  do  not  wonder  at  any  thing  in  Horace  Wal- 
pole.  But  perhaps  this  dome  suggested  to  him  the  colossal 
helmet,  &c.  in  his  Castle  of  Otranto,  clapped  down  in  the 
court-yard  of  his  castle. — Falk.  This  enormous  stone  hel- 
met, however,  of  Dr.  RadcliflFe,  cost  ^^40,000. 


TaS  CliARBHDOK  PBIHTXHO  OFFXOE. 

Falk.  Corsellis  was  the  first  printer  at  Oxford  5  he  pre- 
ceded Caxton  by  three  years.  This  edifice  was  built  out  of 
the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  copyright  of  Lord 
Clarendon's  History,  a  donation  to  the  University  by  h'ls  scin. 
Besides  the  apartments  appropriated  to  the  University  press, 
there  is  a  handsome  room  where  the  heads  of  houses  hold 
their  meetings.    Vanburgh  was  the  architect. 

1l  Corteg.  It  is  unquestionably  Dutch-buHt.  Faxk* 
It  has  the  advantage  of  a  rising  ground.— Il  Cortbg.  I  wish 
it  had  the  advantage  of  being  less  heavy ;  for  want  of  any 
thing  resembling  lightness,  if  it  were  in  the  skies  it  would 
not  have  elevation.  Yet  even  here  in  the  portico  to  the 
south,  Doric  columns  have  an  essential  majesty  in  them  ;  so 
has  that  range  of  three-quarter  Doric  columns  on  the  north. 
Fauk.  The  length  is  115  feet,  it  has  two  stories.— Il 
CoRT£G.  Yes,  I  see,  with  pigeon-holes  between  the  triglyphs 


IHALOGUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

by  W17  of  metopes.    And  very  properly  on  the  smnmit  the 
stotiiei  of  the  nine  Mutes  are  cast  inlead* 

Falk.  The  Pbtsic  Ga&dbn,  simated  opposite  Magdalen 
College^  wasy  as  Chalmers  tells  us,  or^nally  the  burial- 
Ipfonod  of  the  Jews  in  Oxford^  who  were  once  a  very  name- 
foos  community.  The  gateway,  designed  by  Inigb  Jones, 
ims  on  the  right  and  left,  in  niches,  the  statues  of  the  first 
and  second  Charles ;  purchased  with  the  fine  which  poor 
Anthony  a  Wood  paid,  in  consequenceof  having  libelled  the 
character  of  the  great  Lord  Clarendon  in  the  first  edition  of 
his  Athenm  Oxontenses* 

'^  The  garden  is  situated  on  the  western  baink  of  the 
Cherwell.  It  is  about  five  acres  in  its  whole  extent ;  of 
which  three  are  surrounded  with  a  lofty  and  Iiandsome  wall. 

*'  Dillenius  in  1728,  was  appointed  the  first  Professor, 
but  Dr.  John  Sibthorpe  was  the  first  Regius  Professor  of 
Botany.  He  died  in  ]7^6>  ^^d  was  succeeded  in  both 
Professorships  'by  Dr.  George  Williams,  above-mentioned, 
Pdlow  of  Corpus  Christ!  College. 

'^^  Besides  the  green  and  hot-houses,  there  is  a  library  on 
the  left  of  the  cfntrance,  originally  a  green-house.  It  con- 
tains a  ^lUable  collection  of  the  older  botanical  authors,  and 
a  very  ekfensive  kerbartum^  besides  the  original  specimens 
of  the  mosses  described  and  figured  in  the  hutoria  Musco- 
rum  of  Dillenius.  The  value  and  celebrity  of  these  ooUee- 
tions,  and  the  high  reputation  of  Dillenius,  the  first  Shenar- 
dSan  Professor,  attracted  lannseus  to  Oxford  in  173€. 
.  In  LmnsBus's  own  diary  there  is  this  entry.  ^^At 
Oxford,  Unnseus  was  received  in  a  friendly  manner  by  Dr. 
Shaw,  who  had  travelled  in  Barbary.  The  learned  botamst 
Dillenius  was  at  first  haughty,  conceiving  linneus's  Qe- 
lUta  to  be  written  against  him ;  but  he  afterwards  detuned 
him  a  month,  without  leaving  linnieus  an  hour  to  himidf 
the  whole  day  long ;  and  at  last  took  leave  of  him  with  tean 


1      1    •    t 


ii  •■ 


.    I*" 


THE    OBSEIRVATORT. 


.  \ 


I 


t  «       ,      •  I 


PHYSIC  GARDEX  AND  0£S£RVATORY. 

in  his  eyes,  after  having  given  him  the  choice  of  living  with 
him  till  his  death,  as  the  salary  of  the  professor3hip  was 
sufficient  for  them  both/' 

It.  Cortbg.  The  Obsbrvatort  is  situated  very  advanta- 
geously  on  a  rising  ground  at  the  extremity,  here,  of  the 
northern  suburb.  I  see  it  consists  first  of  an  octagonal 
tower,  of  two  stories  besides  the  basement  one. — ^Falk.  It 
rises  to  the  height  of  110  feet,  and  the  diameter  of  a  circle 
inscribed  within  it,  so  as  that  the  sides  are  tangents  to  its 
oircamference,  is  about  forty  feet.-^Ii.  Cortbg.  The  base- 
ment story  is  prolonged  on  each  side.-<-*FALK.  To  about 
sisty-'seven  feet  and  a  half,  extending  in  the  whole  175  feet. 

Il  Cortbo.  This  prolongation  is  not  in  the  plane  of  the 
front  of  the  tower,  though  parallel  to  it,  three,  sides  of  the 
octagon  project  before  it.  A  similar  prolongation  to  the 
extent  of  about  eighteen  feet,  I  see,  is  in  the  story  imme- 
diately above  it  on  eaeh  sidc^^-EnoAR.  What  is  the  circum- 
ference of  the  globe  ckbove,  supported  by  that  figure  repre- 
senting Hercules  and  Atlas^-^FAUL.  Twelve  feet.  In  the 
ponnel  which  you  observe  immediately  under  the  roof,  these 
sculptures  are  emblematic  of  the  eight  winds. 

This  is  said  to  be  somewhat  after  the  model  of  the  tower 
of  the  -winds  at  Athens,  asrepresented  by  Stuart.  The  apart- 
ments in  the  eastern  wing,  of  which  there  is  a  good  engmv- 
ing  in  Ackerman,  are  appropriated  to;  a  complete  set  of  astro- 
nomical iastmments;  and  the  western  is  furnished  with 
smiAer  instruments.  The  former  by  Burd,  cost  jSllQO. 
Tliere  are  two  quadrants,  'each  of  ^eight  feetr^din,  a  transit 
iiistniBient  of  ei^t  feet,  and  a  zenttfa  sector  of  twelve. 

'  <«  lit  the  lower  j^art  of  the  field  is  a  sn^all  circular  build- 
ing, with  a  moveable  roof,  in  which  is  placed  an  eqoafiorial 
sector^  far  the  purpose  of  observing  the  places  of  the  heavenly 
bodies,  at  any  distance  from  the  meridian.    From  the  upper 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

rooms  which  command  an  extemiTe  horizon^  thefe^  a  fine 
prospect,  an  engraving  of  which  may  be  seen  in  Ackerraan. 
As  company  would  interrupt  the  business  of  the  Obserratory, 
it  is  not  shewn  to  strangers ;  ''  and  some  strangers  find  thej 
are  always  busy  here." 

In  rambling  about  the  town  with  the  Guide  book  in  their 
hands,  they  observed  the  old  Castle  of  Oxford,  which  anti- 
quaries are  fond  of  ascribing  to  Saxon  times,  and  Heame 
adduces  as  a  proof  of  this,  that  the  very  armorial  bearingi 
of  Oxford,  are  a  castle  with  a  large  ditch  and  bridge.  But 
Heame  has  omitted  to  add  that  armorial  bearings  were  not 
used  in  England  till  the  time  of  the  Crusades.  The  casde 
here,  is  called  the  tower  of  St  George ;  *^  its  walls  are  ex- 
ceedingly thick  below,  and  tapering  inwards  as  they  ascend, 
are  carried  up  much  higher  than  the  original  roof/'  In  their 
pristine  state  they  evidently  formed,  as  Mr.  Wade  thinks,  an 
enclosed  area  on  the  top  of  the  tower ;  in  which  were  two 
large  semi-circularly  arched  openings,  with  straight  sides, 
through  which  missiles  from  catapaltas,  balistas,  and  other 
great  engines  of  war  might  be  discharjged ;  there  were  sim- 
dry  smaller  openings,  with  sides  splayed  inwards  for  the 
secure  standings  of  archers.''  The  rest  of  the  description 
we  may  omit,  for  this  plain  reason,  that  it  no  longer  exists^ 
and  with  the  less  regret  for  this  other  reason,  that  Mr.  Wade 
is  not  quite  certain  it*— ever  existed  at  all. 

In  the  north-west  quarter  of  the  city,  they  pondered  over 
the  remains  of  the  palace  of  Beaumont,  built  by  Henry  L 
in  1129,  about  the  time  he  built  the  other  at  Woodstock. 
Of  the  former,  a  small  low  fragment  is  still  remaining ;  one 
of  its  sides  has  a  doorway  opening  beneath  a  pointed  arch. 
It  is  traditionally  sud  to  be  part  of  the  room  in  which 
Richard  J.  was  born. 

They  passed  by  the  Town  and  County-Hall^  a  good  stone 
edifice,  if  nof  a  handsome  one,"  on  the  eastern  skle  of  St. 


»     \ 


»      •■     •        V 


I  < 


f        IS 


♦   'if J  . 


.   •:   < 


t 


TD'y-Ti      l-I.' 


ST  MART'S    CHITKCH. 


I 


t  »• 


V   . 


H'ti'. 


ko  oiuc  tu»ii:s^ 


TOWN  HALL,  ST.  MARTIN'S  AND  ST.  MARY'S. 

Aldate's.  The  building  is  two  stories  higb^  the  whole  of  the 
lower  one  is  formed  into  a  piaaza,  the  massive  square  pillars 
of  which,  towards  the  street,  are  adorned  with  rustic  work. 
The  upper  story  has  a  series  of  round-topped  windows* 
Over  the  centre,  which  projects  a  little  from  the  plane  of  the 
edifice,  is  a  pediment. 

I  pass  over  Friar  Bacdn's  study,  as  the  company  did  not 
see  it,  perhaps  because  there  b  now  no  such  thing  to  be  seen. 
They  saw  Oxford  not  always  as  it  was,  but  as  U  U  ;'.  and 
sQcb  study  is  no  where  at  present  to  be  seen  at  Oxford. 

At  Caerfax  they  were  informed  that  it  had  been  St.  Mar- 
tin's Church,  and  would  have  been  so  still — only  it  had  been 
pulled  dov/n  jusi  before  they  came.  The  embattled  tower, 
however,  still  existed,  for  they  ascencled  it  to  the  top,  for  the 
prospect ;  it  is  about  eighty  feet  high.  It  has  a  cross  on  its 
sunomit,  and  in  its  belfry  six  large  well-toned  bells.  The 
interior  of  the  church,  while  it  stood,  used  to  be  entered  by 
a  descent  of  steps ;  a  sure  proof  of  great  antiquity.  The 
windows  of  this  church  were  all  of  the  pointed  kind,  and 
adorned  with  tracery  :  that  of  the  chancel  contained  two 
coats  of  arms  emblazoned  in  colours  of  rare  brilliancy.  Of 
the  church  as  it  stood,  an  engraving  is  given  in  the  plates 
which  accompany  this  work.  As  also  of  some  private  dwel- 
lings at  Mary  Magdalen  Church  Yard,  lately  pulled  down. 
Soch  is  the  rage  of  improvement,  in  pulling  dowi^  which 
architects  call  opening  and  displaying  to  advantage,  that 
authors  and  engravers  cannot  make  too  much  haste  before 
they  are  all  gone. 

They  heard  divine  service  at  St.  Mary's  (the  University 
Church),  and  at  St.  Peter's.  Both  are  elaborately  described, 
as  well  as  that  of  All  Saints',  by  Mr.  Wade.  ''  Of  the 
former,''  he  says,  '^  numerous  and  elegantly  pointed  windows, 
airy  ranges  of  knotted  pinnacles,  and  a  highly  enriched  steeple 
aie  its  principal  features."    It  has  a  nave  with  its  side  aisles,' 


DIA1X>0UK  upon  OXFORD. 

a  chancel>  and  a ,  tower  swrraottiited  by  a  spue,  mng  iitom 
the  north-eastern  side  of  the  church,  betareen  the  nave  and 
the  chancel :  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  £ftbiic  of 
corresponding  architecture  called  the  old  cougregatioD-honsc. 
The  eirtire  length  of  the  edifice  is  200  feet>  its  breadth  iooj, 
and  its  height  seventy. 

The  great  beauty  of  its  spire  is,  that  it  is  agweabletoa 
rule  noticed  by  Mr.  DaUaway  t  the  shaft  is  plaiOi  bat  du- 
tared-  at  the  base;  and  inversely  the  tower  on  which  it  stands 
is  clustered  at  the  capital  and  plain  in  its  shaft.  HenoeiB 
the  junction,  the  capital  of  die  one  is  the  base  of  the  other. 
St.  Peter's  in  the  east  was  built  in  the  9th  ceotury :  it 
contains  specimens  of  the  pointed  style,  as  of  thatwhiA 
preceded  it.  The  interior  of  it  is  well  described  by  thenrj 
faithful  pen  of  Mr.  Brewer.  And  as  to  the  whole  eileriar, 
as  the  company  agreed  with  Mr.  Wade,  that  it  may  q>pev 
unsightly,  and  displease  from  its  ruggedness  and  want  of 
uniformity,  the  reader  will  excuse  me — from  saying  any 
thing  more  about  it  for  the  present. 

Ail  Saints*  Church  is  built  after  a  design  of  Dean  AkhicL 
This  classical  structure  is  a  parallelognun  of  seveiity4«o 
feet  in  length,  forty  in  width,  and  fifky  in  height.  It  has  one 
story  surmounted  by  an  attic ;  in  :the  lower,  are  four  huge 
Cknrinthian  windows  and  a  doorway.  The  upper  is,  of  course, 
%hted  by  five  windows.  Duplicated  Corinthian  coIusibs 
line  the  separation  between  the  windows  of  the  lower  stoiys 
and  between  those  of  the  upper  st<Nry  are  correspooduig 
piers.  The  doors  on  both  sides  of  the  Church  being  alike, 
open  beneath  a  pediment  supported  by  eouj^etsof  Conii- 
thian  eoliimns  i  a  handsome  balustmde  finishes  the  elevation 
of  thetbody.  The  steeple  oo  the  western  eodof  the  Cboicb, 
is  a  Btmctiire^of  fine  proportions  and  elegant  design:  it 
consists  of  three  principal  divisions,  the  Iqwst  one  of  whieb 
i^  carried  up  aqmve  to  tlie  height  of  about  thurty-aix  feet 


ALL  SAINTS  CHURCH.— WESL£YAN  CHAP£L,  &c. 

above  the  roof  of  the  churchy  termiDating  in  a  cornice  and 
balustrade,  and  ornamented  with-  flajniog  urns  in  the  plaoe 
of  pinnacles.  The  next  division  is  cylindricid ;  it  b  adorned 
with  a  peristyle  of  the  Corinthian  order,  supporting  a  bahis- 
tjrade^  on  which  is  placed  a  series  of  flaoung  urns.  A  light 
octagonal  spire,  rising  to  the  height  of  160  feet,  completes 
the  steeple. 

The  Methodists  and  Dissenters  have  their  meeting* 
houses  respectively  here ;  as  also  the  Roman  Catholics.  The 
state  of  the  latter,  indeed,  at  Oxford,  may  be  compared  to  a 
fallen  star,  or  a  winter  sun — shorn  of  its  beams. 

The  Wesleyan  Chapel  is  really  a  classical  little  building 
in  the  manner  of  Palladio,  simplex  mundiiis.  It  was  designed 
by  Jenkins,  and  built  by  Evans.  Over  the  entrance-door, 
which  is  arched,  a  porch  (for  it  is  not  quite  spacious. enongh 
to  be  called  a  portico),  stands  out  before  the  edifice^  supported 
on  double  columns  of  the  Italian*Doric  order.  A  single 
window,  arched,  is  placed  oaeach  side  of  the  porch,  at  equid 
distances,  from  the  centre.  Above  the  building  is  raised  one 
story,  having  three  arched,  windows::  the  middle  one  has,  on 
each  side  of  it,  double  pilasters  corresponding  to  the  pillsrs 
below:  and oves  their  common  entablature  is  a  blank  altic^ 
having:  double  piers  over  the  pilasters,  surmounted  by  a  very 
elegant  and  light  scroll-pediment.  The  Chapel  accommo^ 
dates  800  or  1000  persons.  Behind  it  are  two  school  rooms 
for  the  Charity  and  Sunday  Schools,  supported  by  the  con- 
gregation. 

But  all  thought  the  front  of  the  Dissenters'  Chf^l 
approached  nearer  the  model  of  the  pure  antique.  The 
basement  story  is  Doric,  like  the  former,  only  that  the 
entrance-door  has  a  flat  lintel ;  that  there  is  a  triangular 
pediment  over  the  entablature  of  the  porch,  and  that  the 
side  windows  are  cut  down  to  the  pavement.  It  has  also  at 
each  end,  rustic  pedestals  for  the  pilasten  above  it.    In  the 


Ladt  G.  We  come  now  to  the  principal  object  of  curio- 
sity at  Oxford^  though  in  our  view  it  has  been  reserved  for 
the  concluding  one  and  last,  the  system  of  public  instruction 
at  this  University. — Falk.  English  public  instruction  must 
relate  to  the  religious  and  civil  institutions  of  England*  It 
is  unnecessary  therefore  in  this  company,  and  certainly  at 
this  moment,  to  explain  what  these  are. — II  Cortbg.  We 
may  suppose  these  sufficiently  known  to  dispense  with  our 
saying  any  thing  about  them. — Edgar.  Be  it  so ;  but  it  is 
very  important  to  Oxford,  as  well  as  to  us,  to  consider  how 
far  these  and  the  public  instruction  relating  to  them,  are 
likely  to  be  affected  in  particular,  by  that  treaty  so  much  talked 
of,  the  Holy  Alliance :  or  how  far  such  a  treaty  is  pos- 
sible, consistent  with  the  substance^  as  well  as  form,  of  the 
British  constitution  ? 

Ladt  G.  I  am  extremely  curious  to  hear  Falkland's 
sentiments  on  this  question,  connected  as  it  is  with  the  office 
of  this  University,  the  conservator  of  the  Reformation,  and 
holding  the  citadel  as  it  were,  of  Orthodoxy. — ^Edgak.  At 
least  this  University  and  that  of  Cambridge,  may  be  consi- 
dered as  the  two  eyes  of  the  national  religion. — ^Ladt  G. 
Do  give  us  your  sentiments,  Falkland,  on  this  interesting 
inquiry :  I  see  the  Cortegiano  nods  his  assent — Falk.  You 
shall  have  then,  very  unreservedly,  my  sentiments  on  these 
subjects;  and  observe  here,  if  they  do  not  please,  you  may 
blame  yourselves.  You  are  principals  in  any  offence  I  am 
going  to  commit :  and  the  mischievous  ^frida,  by  that  smUe 
of  hers,  b  at  least  an  accessory. 

I  should  set  out  by  reviving  your  recollection  shortly,  of 


TRUE  ORTHODOXY  IH  CHURCH  ANP  STATE. 

balance  pves  our  present  system.  While  all  parties  are  cod« 
stantly  tendiug  to  destroy  this ;  just  as  each  nation  in  Eorope 
would  destroy  the  balance  in  the  larger  system.— **Ladt  G. 
In  which  they  would  succeed,  perhaps,  if  left  to  themselves ; 
in  other  words,  were  it  not  for  Providence-r-that  first  spring 
and  ultimate  regulator  in  all  things. 

Falk.  The  quarrel  once  kindled,  and  the  power  of  Spain 
having  rapidly  declined  and  set,  the  house  of  Guise  and 
France  kept  the  quarrel  alive  under  Elizabeth  and  her  suc- 
cessors. A  plausible  subject  and  colour  having  been  given 
to  this  quarrel,  it  was  not  long  without  a  name  also,  and  a 
strong  and  memorable  line  of  deouircation  was  drawn  between 
the  Churches  of  England  and  of  Rome.  In  this  manner,  a 
particular  cause,  together  with  a  name  or  badge  of  party, 
were  given  to  the  settlement  of  the  Reformation,  which  other* 
wise  would  have  been  gradually,  and  tranquilly,  brought  about 
by  general  causes. 

Il  Cortbo.  Long  before  what  is  called  the  sera  of  the 
Reformation,  the  power  of  the  popes  had  ceased,  in  point  of 
fact,  to  be  imperial ;  but  it  had  been  .too  long  so  for  the 
popes  to  renounce  readily  the  name.  They  still  vainly 
endeavoured  to  assert  the  style  and  titles  of  their  former 
grandeur,  irreconcileable  to,  and  incompatible  with,  their 
fallen  condition.  They  had  become  mere  lieutenants  of  Spain, 
as  they  must  ever  be  of  any  dominant  power.— -Faul.  In 
the  mean  while,  the  Galilean  and  other  governments^  who 
were  determined  not  to  be  the  humble  dependants  of  Spain, 
having  shifted  ofiF  the  papal  yoke  quietly,  and  without  echi^ 
succeeded  to  the  papal  prerogatives.  They  did  this  silently, 
still  keeping  up^  for  the  sake  of  public  opinion,  the  pqpal 
banners,  and  externals  of  papal  allegiance,  with  all  the  atteu''^ 
dant  influence  accumuhited  upon  an  almost  unlimited  civil 
power. 

Henry  the  Eighth  happened  not  to  be  a  politician* 

R 


.    .  BIALOOUB   UPQK.  OXFORD. 

Brave^  firank^  %tA  generdusy  he  was.mber  m  Ugh  magitt- 
nimous  lord,  thaa.tbe   king  of  Us  people.     Now,  ilwas 
necessary  for  the  amUtion  of  Spam^  to  ttikefrom  the  pc^Ks, 
£oglaDd.-^lL  CoRTte*  Consideriog  the  king's  temper^  this 
was  oo  difieolt  oialter^  especially  as  it  tallied  pretty  neaiiy 
with  the  temper  of  the  nation  itself. — ^FalU:.  It  will  not  con- 
sent that  the  qpiiit  of  its  goveroiMent  in  Cbttich  or  State, 
should  be  Fienoh^  Spanish,  or  Roman,  but  English  only. 
In  all  ages,  thi&  has  been  its  chancter.    And  in  this  sense 
the  Churdi  of  England  had  been  in  its  ^Nrit  virtually  re- 
formed Iteg  before .  the  Refoitnation :  for  being  part  of  a 
mucedconstttotion,  itdooldnot  but  partakeof  its  mixed  nature. 
But  names  and- forms  remained;  the  external  badges,  and 
these  »re  ereiy-  thing  in  politics.-*-Ii.  Cortsg.  You  might 
to  thu  day,  in  fiiiBt,  have  been  known  and  recognised  abroad 
for  Catholics,  as  yop  undoubtedly  are  in  reality,  as  well  as  in 
name. — Paul.  Yes,  but  not  .Soman-Catholics.    Catholics 
we  call  owrselves,  and  justly  in  our  very  creed.    Bat  in 
throwing  off  the  papal  name,  its  forms  and  badges,  with 
the  doctrines  ofthe  fioman  Church,  the  Church  of  England 
has  invincibly  oocupied  the  same  position  at  the  Reforraadon 
tiiat  it  has  before  and  since :  a  position  the  most  tenable,  be*^ 
cause  the  most  ceaftiai  t  aposition  that  commands  or  readily 
communicates  with  eveiy  other ;  and  upon  which  the  value 
and  holifing  even  of  every  other,^  together  with  a  mutual 
good  undentandivg  and  tolerance  of  all,  dqpend.^— Ii.  Cor- 
TBo.  It  has  been  called  liUthcnin  by:some,  and  CalVinistic 
by  others.-^FAUK.  It  is  neither.    No  more  is  it  Aimenian, 
OS  it  has  been  called  by  a  third.    It  is  still  the  same  Catholic 
and  Apostolic  Church  it  ever  was ;  presenting  various  aspects, 
only,  according'to  the  exigencies  of  the  times  and  growing 
improvements  of  the  i^ ;  and  ever  adapting  itself  to  the 
genius,  circumstances,  and  mixed  nature,  of  its  unrivalled 
civil  polity. 


TRUB  ORTHODOXY  IN  CHURCH  AND  STATE. 

Falk.  It  may  be  laid  down  as  a  theoreia,  that  the 
less  in  extreme  of  temperature  any  form  of  constitation  is> 
in  other  ^nrofdsy  the  more  it  is  a  due  temper  of  monarchy, 
aristocracy,  and  democracy,  the  less  will  it  be  subject  to  tnn 
pical  revolutions ;  and  exactly  in  that  ratio  will  be  our  free 
agency  and  liberty.  Nor  can  it  be  denied,  or  doubted,  that 
this  attribute  is  to  be  found  m  a  greater  degree  in  these 
islands,  than  in  any  kingdom  or  -state,  ancient  or  modem, 
noticed  in  history.' 

Il  Cortbg.  The  mixed  temper  of  the  British  Constitution, 
its  consequent  elasticity,  vigour,  and  n^rangibiUiyhwe  been 
remarked  in  all  ages ;  but  in  a.  more  signal  manner  during 
the  last  fifty  years.  This  alone  gave  it  the  superiority  in  the 
late  contest  with  France^ 

Falk.  A  pure  unmixed  monarchy,  aristocracy,  orde* 
mocracy,  would  pot  have  had  sufficient  wisdbm  in  its  coun-» 
cils,  moderation,  steacUness  and  public  spirit,  on  the  one 
hand ;  nor  sufficient  identity  of  character,  secresy,  strength 
and  activity,  on  the  other.  The  balance, >. however,  of  the 
constitution  has  been  all  aloi^  held  by  (he  second  estate* 
We  may  lay  it  down  as  a  msKim,  that  whatever  statesman 
acts  against  this  truth,  and  would  attempt  to  aggrandise^ 
inordinately,  eitherthe  first  estate  or  fhe  third,  to  the  prejudice 
of  the  second,  .in  such -a 'state  ar  the  United  Kingdom,  he 
is  vainly  striving  against  nature  and.  the  immutable  relatians 
of  things*  The  second  estate  placed  between  the  conflicting 
extitemesfbf  our  *mobai>chy  and  democracy,  can. alone  look 
the  former  in  the  fhce  without  di^nger  of  being  o^er^nredj 
and  enter  the  lists  with  the  latter,  without  danger  of  bdng 
overpowered.  It  alternately  elevates  or  depresses  itself  to 
the  level  of  either.  But  it  cannot,  if  it  would,  endure  a 
tyrant ;  it  wOl  not,  if  it  bould,  brook  a  mob.  The  national 
church  is,  or  should  be,  in  perfect  unison  with  this  tone,  and 
it  must  be  so.    If  you  look  into  the  history  of  this  country 

K  2 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

for  the  last  900  years,  you  wOl  find^  aniformly,  tbat  it  is  tbe 
second  estate  which  has  been  the  occauon  of  bringing  about; 
or  checking,  of  limiting  and  defining  all  our  changes  in  palh 
lie  and  private  law,  as  well  as  in  chorch-govemmcnt.  The 
generic  term  of  Lord,  which  b  national  and  pecoliarbj 
courtesy  to  Elngland,  is  applicable  to  the  three  estates.  To 
the  first  singly,  to  the  second  distributively,  and  to  the  thiid, 
collectively  or  figuratively.    But  it  is  attributed  by  naiionil 
usage,  and  indeed  with  peculiar  propriety,  to  the  second  onlj. 
Neither  of  the  other  two  estates  has  from  age  to  age  that 
unalterable  consistency,  which  is  really  the  palladiain  of 
national  character.    Hence,  neither  has  equally  the  attribute 
of  duralulity.    A  true  nobleman,  or  gentleman,  is,  In  his 
spirit,  condition,  and  manners,  at  once,  kingly,  and  a  roan  of 
the  people.    But  as  a  proof  that  the  second  estate  Mis  tie 
balance  in  the  English  constitution,  let  any  one  consider  for 
a  while,  whether,  of  the  three  principles  which  characteiic 
the  three  forms  of  an  unmixed  constitution,  the  most  strik- 
ing quality  of  the  British,  be  not  that  of  moderation;  the 
attribute  according  to  Montesquieu  of  the  second  estate  orij* 
The  principle  of  activity  and  secresy  in  the  monarch,  and  of 
virtue  in  the  people,  though  great  and  powerful  in  iep^t 
are  not  so  striking  and  prominent.    No  other  principle  will 
account  for,  and  render  consistent  the  different  stragfto  lo 
our  history.  And  whatever  Montesquieu  may  have  predicted 
as  the  immediate  cause  of  the  destruction  of  English  lAertf 
(which  Mr.  Hume  is  graciously  pleased  to  call  its  fiww* 
nasta),  I  will  venture  to  prophecy  that  that  liberty  wffl  ^i 
BO  long  as  public  opinion  looks  up  with  respect  and  aflectioo 
to  the  second  estate,  and  so  long  as  that  estate  contmues 
to  deserve  this  by  its  moderation.    Hume  has  totally  (I  ^ 
pcct  for  more  reasons  than  one),  has  wilfully  mistaken  tnc 
characteristic  of  the  British  Constitution  in  his  hhtofj  i^' 
he  calls  it),  wherein  he  spares  no  pains  to  belie^  degrade,  >d 


.1 


TRUB  ORTHODOXY  IN  CHURCH  AND  STATE. 

vilify  the  nobility  and  parliament  of  the  realm.  For  his 
secret  standard  all  along  was  the  unmixed  monarchy  of 
France.  I  am  sorry  that  others  of  the  first  eminencej  not 
merely,  for  talent,  but  for  courage  and  virtue^  have  really 
ndsiaien,  or  overlooked  this  truth,  thinking  all  the  while 
they  are  contending  for  liberty  1  But  the  French  Revolu-* 
tionists  knew  it  well* — ^Falk.  And  under  Providence,  so 
long  as  the  existence  of  England  is  worth .  praying  for,  that 
principle  will  ever  check  and  control,  whether  at  home  or 
abroad,  all  inordinate  appetite  for  power. 

But  to  return  to  the  historical  sketch  of  our  Reformation, 
the  papal  power,  which  had  once  overflowed  all  Europe,  hav- 
ing been  long  since  confined  within  its  territorial  limits,  and 
that  of  Spain  having  been  afterwards  consumed  or  parched 
up,  there  remained  only  that  of  France  in  the  way.  But  by 
the  French  Revolution,  that  tropical  whirlwind  and  earth* 
quake  in  the  political  globe,  this  power  has  disappeared  for 
a  time  from  the  map  of  Europe.  The  crisis,  therefore,  has 
at  length  arrived.  For  the  United  Kingdom  has  at  length 
the  opportunity  and  leisure,  for  the  first  time  these  many 
centuries  (we  might  say,  these  nine  centuries  which  have 
elapsed  since  the  days  of  Alfred),  to  order  its  ecclesiastical 
legislation  apart  from  foreign  interference  or  foreign  influence 
of  any  kind.  It  may  now  turn  its  attention  to  every  part  of 
its  domestic  and  political  economy,  reviewing .  its  laws  and 
history.  In  doing  this,  it  will  of  course  retrace  its  steps, 
particularly  for  the  last  forty  years,  and  thence  discover  the 
point  where  the  first  deviation  originated.  It  will  study  the 
nature  and  origin  of  its  different  seets,  its  religious  parties 
old  and  new,  also  what  should  be  the  state  of  the  established 
clergy.  And  acquiring  further  wisdom  firom  the  knowledge 
of  whatever  omission  or  errors  have  taken  place  while  it  was 
not  a  free  agent,  now  that  it.  is  become  so,  legbkte  and 
order  whatever  shall  seem  best  upon  the  whole* 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD:    "  ^ 

At  the. same  time  the  legislatare  is  umivotdably  fettered 
by  yarious  farms  and  enactments  made  under  the  pressure  of 
the  times«  It  has  been  Aovght  that  not  enough  has  been 
dotie  at  any  one  time^  particularly  at  the  Reformation  itself. 
An  ecdesiastioal  code  had  been  drawn  up  by  CranmCT,  but 
laid  aside-  for  state  reasons  that  made  it  impamtive  to  post- 
pone it  for  a  time.  A  grafid. system  -of  national  education 
has  been  a  casus  (nnissus  in  our  legislatire  enactments  at 
the  Reformation.    Atid  Ireland  has  been  nqrlected. 

Iftoolittie  has  been  done  at  one  time,  too  much  has 
be^i  done  at  another.  Many  acts  have  passed  for  Ireland 
under  the  pressure  of  the  times,  in  the  courge  of  these  fiofty 
years  past ;  while  about  ninety  years  ago  the  impofitic  law  of 
Agistment  was  carried  there.  The  elcfctite  franchise  has  been 
yielded  to  Roman  Catholics ;  hence  Ae  petitions  we  aie  im- 
portuned witb  every  session.  For  it  is  oommon-sense  that 
tiies^  petitions  will  find  members  to  pnsent  and  support 
tiiekn,  because  in  Ireland  Roman  CathoUcs  do  actually  return 
a  laigi  proportion  of  the  Irifeh  reprei^entatives,  and  Infiusnbe 
the  remainder.  Hie  dSeaaama  now  bfiered  to  tlie  legiatature 
is* either  to  go  too  iaTi  'or  to  retrteeits  ^t€|xi  and' ia  re-gmnt 
Jn  4  more  eligible  form. 

^  Ic  06ri»z.  Andsofar:as^t&esegsiiiitshkVeqimpromi^ 
iihe  Refonnatidn^  (whicb  i^  afimdamentallnaam  of  stale 
knd  lawiof- the  realm)  ta'Rsume  them  ?-^Fack.  Usidaiibt- 
ed)y.-4£  CovtBG.  This  i^y  be  illusteted  Uyale  oidiiary 
axpedient  resorted  to  in  canvi;yalieib|^,  calfed  privite'Acts  of 
PM'tiamtoitf.  '  An  estate  is  often  so  -fettered  by  strict  iimita- 
tiobs,  that  all  the  patties  interoiiedih  lt>  cannot  make  the 
Aispositioos  of  it  that  ars  fiir  the  fcolnmon  advantage.  An 
act  of  Parliament  is^  fcfy  mutual  cons^t  obtained^.  whi<^ 
fdeases  the  estate  from  the  former  conditions^  re-«ettiing  it 
in  a  more  available  manner  to  th4  sk\M  uses. 

Edgar.  Otherwise,  (he  qiiestionis  brought  to  this  issue : 


TRUE  ORTHODOXY  IN  CHURCH  4-ND  STATE. 

Are  Roman  Catholics  never  to  be  reformed  ?  Or  are  we 
solemnly  to  give  vp  the  principle  (not  only  of  the  Reforma- 
tion which  took  place  300  years  ago),  but  of  all  manner  of 
reformation,  religious  and  civil  f  and  are  we  to  abiDgote  not 
ODly  our  statute,  but  our  wholtf  common  law.  ?  Are  we  with 
the  sceptics,  to  say  that  all  religions  ape  aiike,  there  being  no 
more  certainty  in  one  than  in  another,  conformably  to 
Mr.  Hume's  principles  in  his  Essays  and  Hbtory,  and  of  those 
statesmen  who  have  been  brought  up  in  his  school  ?  And 
are  we  to  quit  the  Constitution  of  Alfred,  of  Edward,  and 
^Elizabeth ;  after  emancipating  our^selves  from  the  influence 
of  one  foreign  power,  the  Pope,  to  be  ruled  and  governed 
by  a  leash  of  foreign  powers,  calling  themselves,  and  I  think 
somewhat  profanely,  a  HolyAUianee? 

Falk.  No:  sueh  a  qu^ion  mutt  ne^er  be  so  much  as 
entertained.  This  realm  is  essentially  and  immutably  Pro- 
testant. Its  King  and  Parliament  will  prefSer  the  support, 
the  hand  and  heart  of  this  great  Pvotestanf  people,  to  any 
foreign  alliance.  And'  still  the  Allied  Powers  profess,  that 
their  intention  i^  only  to  reviert  toy  and>to  lie-^tablish  first 
principtes,.  restraing  merdy  the  constitution  of  Europe  which 
had  been  subverted  by  Buonaparte,  respecting  of  course  that 
of  each  particular  state.— Edoab.  Then  all  they  have  to  do 
is,  to  let  those  coaslitutions  alone.«-lL  Cortbo.  Which 
Bwst  not  be  tampered  with,  certainly.  The  constitution  of 
a  state  was  never  yet  the  creation  of  any  human  hands. 

Kai.k.  The  question  has  been  put  bysom^in  this  way. 
A$  every  national  European  •  Church  must  have*  relation  to 
the  partieubr  State  to  which  it  belongs ;  so  that  Church' and 
State ,  itself  mnst  have  relation  to  the  ecdesisstidil  and  civil 
consthation  of  Europe. 

Edgar:  God  forbid  that  the  Psi'liameiit  6t  England 
slmdd.,ever  acknowledge,  as  law,  wiAtsa  theifbuir  seas,  an 
tmpetiaLukase  of  Ri;issia. 


DIAU)GUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Fal<.  Indeed  8iidi  a  suppoMtioii  is  incompatible  wHh 
tlie  piofesaioo  of  rererting  to  first  principles,  and  of  revmng 
and  leinfordng  the  constituent  principles  and  forms  of  go^ 
Teroment  in  each  state.  To  renew  them  by  a  sound  economy 
is  prescribed  by  Providence  itself ;  to  counteract,  or  to  attempt 
to  re»cast  them  in  a  new  mouldy  would  be  as  fatal  as  it 
would  be  ¥aio* 

Edgar.  Otherwise  they  would  arrogate  to  themselves  a 
power  which  Providence  never  committed  to  them.  A  man 
might  as  well  talk  of  giving  himself  a  new  physical  constitu- 
tion and  a  new  body,  as  of  altering  and  re-moulding  the 
constitution  of  the  realm. 

Il  Cortbo.  If  the  Holy  Alliance  be  to  preserve  the  free- 
dom of  Europe  as  one  foedenil  community,  and  the  national 
constitution,  civil  and  religions,  of  each  state  in  particular, 
as  a  member  of  one  gmnd  system,  it  is  founded  on  the  na- 
ture of  things  and  will  Itst.  If  it  be  otherwise,  we  need  not 
be  alarmed;  it  will  soon  destroy  itself,  or  be  disscdved. 

Falk.  But  the  first  and  most  essential  consideration  for 
an  English  statesman  (and  it  touches  him  penonally),  is  to 
follow  the  genius  of  the  nation,  and  to  secure  his  having  the 
hearts  of  the  people  along  with  him.  His  case  would  be  but 
a  hopeless  one,  going  up  Tower  Hill  to  the  scafibid,  even 
though  he  had  a  treaty  signed  with  all  the  soverdgns 
of  Europe  in  his  pocket.  A  revotutbn  at  home,  by  malcon- 
tents of  all  descriptions  in  politics,  revenue  and  religion,  and 
brought  about  by  tampering  with  the  national  church,  has 
ever  since  the  civil  wars  of  the  seventeenth  century,  (at 
least  until  the  counter-revolution  of  France  in  1815),  been  as 
much  dreaded  by  the  British  ^binet  for  the  time  being,  the 
bare  mention  of  it  exciting  as  great  a  panic,  as  the  coming 
of  the  Gaols  did  at  Republican  Rome*  It  wtm  fated,  how- 
ever, though  no  one  saw  it  till  late,  that  whatevw  general 
should  subdue  the  Gauls,  would  thereby  become  master  of 


TRUB  ORTHODOXY  IN  CHURCH  AND  STATE. 

Rome^  and  found  an  Empire  on  the  rains  of  the  Republic. 
This  alternative  there  were  no  human  means  of  avoiding^  con* 
stituted  as  the  Republic  was :  for  the  6auh  could  not  be 
united  to  the  Bepublic;  they  were  fated  to  conquer^  or  be 
conquered..  But  our  sects  of  all  kinds,  Roman  Catholic  and 
Protestant,  may  be  reclaimed,  re -united,  and  incorporated 
into  the  system  of  our  common  Church  and  State.  It  is  of 
consequence  not  to  despise  this  danger  of  a  revolution, 
(which  is  by  no  means  chimerical,  and  he  must  be  a  very 
light  and  presumptuous  man  who  contemns  it,  or  affects  to 
do  so),  nor  on  the  other  hand  to  fear  it  too  much;  since  on 
the  dictation  of  any  sudden  alarm,  the  very  means  resorted 
to  of  stopping  or  retarding  that  event,  might  only  accelerate 
it«    Medio  tutissitnus  ibis. 

The  safe  policy  is  neither  to  persecute,  nor  to  encourage 
and  set  up  (as  they  have  been  fatally  doing  in  Ireland  the 
last  forty  years),  the  different  sects,  whether  old  or  new,  civil 
or  religious,  whig  or  tory  ;  but  like  Elizabeth,  to  neutralise 
their  acrimony,  by  a  wise  and  judicious  economy,  in  finance 
especially,  as  well  as  by  every  other  act  in  Church  and  State, 
of  a  noble-minded,  vigorous,  and  exemplary  administration* 

II  Cortbo.  But  the  construction  of  the  Holy  Alliance, 
according  to  some  persons,  seems  to  be  (what  they  them* 
selves  would  infallibly  do,  if  they  had  a  similar  opportunity), 
that.it  is  only  a  union  of  each  sovereign  against  the  liberty 
of  his  own  subjects  and  those  of  every  other  state,  for  the 
sake  of  absolute  interminable  power ;  and  that  for  this,  as 
well  as  for  revenue,  it  has  been  projected  to  rumfordise  their 
ecclesiastical  establishments,  on  the  principle  that  all  revenue 
which  can  be  saved  is  wanted  by  the  State ;  and  that  a 
beneficed  clergy  (according  to  Adam  Smith,  the  apostle  of 
our  modern  political  economy),  witb  suitable  revenues  are  a 
uaelesa  burden  to  the  community* 

Paul.  That  such  may  be  the  policy  of  foreign  powers^  I 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

believe.  However^  the  subverting  every  Gnurch  in  Chris- 
tendom^ is  a  speeolative  entertainment  that  would  be  fol- 
lowed by  thb  very  unpleasant  after-piece,  the  subverting  the 
next  half  hour  every  State  in  Christeadom.  In  truth,  dib 
was  the  real  cause  of  the  Revolution  of  France.  And  what 
tempted  its  government  to  make  that  rash  experiment  with 
Its  church,  was  the  disorder  of  its  finances.  Let  this  be  a 
warning  to  our  statesmen,  for  there  is  the  grand  dangor. 

Il  Cortbo.  But  quitting  these  delirious  dreams  of  the 
political  economists,  (the  only  extravagance  of  German 
brains  that  has  not  been  already  laughed  down  and  exploded 
in  England),  the  point  most  essential  at  this  crisis,  after  pro- 
viding for  the  permanent  tranquillity  of  Europe  as  well  as 
for  the  national  safety  at  home,  for  its  liberty,  ecoimmy,  and 
industry,  (since  being  is  not  sufficient  without  weU-beihg)  the 
point  therefore  of  most  essential  condern,  is,  how  to  renovate 
religion  by.  an.  exemplary  and  self-corrected  clergy,  more 
alive  and  on  the  alert  in  their  duties,  thus  stemming  or  turn- 
ing off  the  impetuosity  of  secti ;  at  the  same  time  maintain- 
ing an  amicable  intercourse  and  oommuniciitton,  if  not  com- 
mumon,  with  all  foreign  churches^  * 

Ladt  G.  In  what  manner  should  we  define  and  class  the 
different  Churches  ? 

Falk.  Taking  them  historically :  there  is  first,  the  pri- 
mitive government  of  the  church,  under  the  apostles.  2. 
The  chrbtian  church  from  the  time  of  the  last  apostle  to  the 
age  of  Constantine,  when  Christianily  became  the  religion  of 
the  State.  3.  The  Greek  imperial  Church  of  the  East,  from 
which  the  national  church  of  Russni  is  derived.  4.  The  Latin 
or  Roman  Imperial  chikrch  of  the  West.  5.  All  other  national 
churches  of  the  modem  European  states,  by  uninterrupted 
tradition  handing  down-  Christianifty.  which  is  still  ever  one 
and  the  same.  All  these  may  be,  aud  are^  or  oi^t  to  have 
been  more  or  less  refoiiilied,  since  the  d«>wnU  of  the^Rdman 


TRUE  ORTHODOXY  IN  CHURCH  AND   STATE. 

hierarchy,  and  are  adapted  more  or  less  to  their  several  go- 
veruments,  as  well  as  circumstances  of  the  times,  character 
and  genius  of  their  people. 

Of  these,  the  Greek  Church,  the  real  prototype  of  the 
Latin  one,  is  suited  to  the  two  extremes  of  unmixed  govern- 
ment, a  democracy  and  an  absolute  monarchy. — II  Cobteg. 
Yes^  it  is  remarkable  that  the  democratical  cantons  in  Swit* 
serlandare'  Roman  Catholic. — Falk.  And  it  is  equally 
remarkable  that  the  aristocratical  cantons  are  not  so.  The 
ehurch  of  Geneva,  from  which  that  of  Scotland  is  copied, 
(and  we  know  that  till  the  accession  of  James  the  Sixth,  the 
king  and  great  body  of  the  people  in  Scotland  had  little  or 
no  weight  in  the  Scottish  Constitution  governed  by  its  nobles) 
the  Church  of  Geneva  is  exclusively  adapted  to  a  small, 
frugal,  and  not  very  rich,  aristocracy.  But  the  national 
church  of  England  (mixed,  because  it  is  a  member  of  a 
mixed  state)  is  suited  to  a  rich,  powerful,  and  free  monarchy. 

Il  CoRTfio.  In  characterizing  the  different  clergymen  of 
the  foregoing  churches,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  I  think, 
that  the  Roman  CathoUc  priesthood  have  the  strongest  pas- 
toral influence-,  add  are  both  the  most  beloved  and  the  most 
feared  by  their  congregations ;  and  that  clergymen  among 
the  Ptotestant  dissenters,  are  the  most  popular  andrespedted. 
They  are  also  more  open  to  be  justly  appreciated  in  their 
private  characters  ;  and  alike  with  the  foregoing  description 
^  clergymen^— -the  very  circumstance  of  their  being  a  sect, 
necessarily  puts  them  on  their  good  behaviour.-^FALK. 
While  the  clergymen  of  th6  establishment  ever  have  been 
nt^ustly  and  tmnecessarily  rendered  an  bbject  of  envy  to  the 
common  people,  of  jealousy  to  thtilr  Superiors,  and  of  rivalry 
and  hati<ed  among  their  equals.  It  is  almost  proverbial  in 
England,  the  disagreement  in  pretensions  l)etween  the 
panon  and  the  'squire.  Hence  the  brutality  of  the  latter ; 
the  indignsition  at  which  in  the  sons  of  the  Church  o^ca- 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

sioDS  pride,  while  a  doe  respectfulness  would  occasion  hu- 
milicj.  Hence  too,  the  license  in  speculation  of  many 
in  England,  treating  an  establbhed  church,  as  if  it  were  a 
mere  burden  to  the  state,  instead  of  being,  as  it  is,  its 
chiefest  strength  and  ornament.  The  very  subustence  even 
and  most  rightful  inheritance  of  its  ministers,  are  reaped  in  a 
manner  the  most  irksome  and  invidious  to  those  who  receive, 
and  the  least  advantageous  and  encouraging  to  these  who 
pay.  But  for  this,  the  state  only,  and  its  financiers,  at 
bottom,  are  to  blame.  This  truth  must  no  longer  be  dis* 
sembled.  And  I  must  repeat  it,  that  this  illiberal  treatment 
has  had  an  unCsvourable,  though  a  veiy  oatural,  effect  on 
the  temper  and  manners  of  too  many  of  our  clergymen  also* 
Yet,  consider  for  a  moment,  what  we  owe  to  them  and 
their  predecessors.  It  should  ever  be  remembered,  and  it  is 
as  ungrateful,  as  it  is  illiberal  to  foiget,  that  at  that  great 
depuration  and  revisal  of  the  Catholic  rule,  called  the  Re* 
formation,  the  legislature  having  taken  the  Scripture  out  of 
the  keeping  of  the  popes,  and  having  solemnly  unsealed  it, 
did  commission  the  bishops  and  other  ministers  of  its  church 
to  promulgate  it  to  the  people.  They  were  enjoined  to  make 
readings  or  homilies  thereon,  weekly,  or  daily ;  first  distri- 
buting to  discreet  persons,  such  as  fathers  of  families,  a  copy 
of  the  Scriptures  in  Englbh,  their  native  tongue.  The 
people  are  supposed  first  to  hear  it  read  in  a  certain  order, 
and  afterwards  upon  reading  it  at  home  in  the  same 
order  to  apply  for  resolution  of  all  difficulties,  or  rational 
doubts,  to  the  ministers  of  the  church,  who  are  (they  cer- 
tainly ought  to  be,  and  majf  be,  coming  out  of  these  seats  of 
instruction),  learned  men.  This  order  of  men  were  to 
direct  their  lives,  studies,  and  labours,  to  that  purpose  exclu- 
sively, and  to  no  other.  As  they  were  precluded  by  their 
sacred  calling  from  attending  to  the  arts  of  life,  whether 
trade,  farming,  or  to  professions  and  handicrafts  of  any  kindj 


TRUE  ORTHODOXY  IN  CHURCH  AND  STATE. 

the  legislature  did  set  apart^  or  at  least  ought  to  bavid  set 
apart^  funds  for  their  necessary  maintenance  and  support; 
And  as  their  ministry  was  at  once  important  in  a  civil  point 
of  vitw,  and  sacred  in  a  religious  one^  this  provision  id  a  rich 
and  powerful  monarchy  was  ordained  with  all  proper  regard 
to  rank  and  dignity^  after  the  same  regular  subordination  that 
there  reigns  in  our  civil  establishments. 

At  the  same  time^  the  bishops^  under  the  eye  of  the  legis-* 
lature^  had  been  ordered  to  give  the  spirit  and  essence  of  the 
Scriptures  in  that  form  called  the  Liturgy.  This  was  enjoined 
to  be  drawn  up  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  no  just  cause  of 
offence,  humanly  speaking,  to  any  church  existing ;  for  tbb 
is  a  point  touching  the  peace  of  nations*  But  the  chief  care 
taken  was  for  the  benefit  of  those  at  home,  that  the  Liturgy 
should  be  palpably  deducible  from,  and  referrible  to,  the 
Scripture, — and  to  that  alone. 

Edgar.  In  truth  it  consists  of  nothing  else.  It  does 
not,  and  cannot  contain  all;  but  it  contains  so  much,  and 
that  after  such  a  selection  as  will  induce  any  honest  man  to 
go  further,  to  the  fountain  head ;  and  in  going  further,  after 
such  directions,  it  prevents  any  sensible  man  from  losing  his 
way. 

This  solemn  promulgation  having  once  gone  forth,  is 
now,  morally  and  even  physically,  irrevocable.  But  the 
church  is  ever  open  and  its  i6inisters  are  ever  in  waiting  to 
set  forth  to  all  such  as  are  willing  to  hear  them,  (while  the 
law  commands  every  one  under  a  penalty  to  hear  them, 
except  such  as  are  incorrigibly,  or  incurably  alienated),  foi* 
these^  I  say,  the  ministers  of  our  Church  attend  to  set  forth 
the  evidence,  the  exposition,  and  the  application  of  the 
sacred  text.  I  need  not  add  that  this  text  is  the  supreme 
law  of  our  conduct,  and  the  charter  of  our  condition  here-' 
after  :  and  that  in  this  world,  whatever  Mr.  Locke  and  hii 
followers  may  speculate  to  the  contrary,  that  law  is  the  real 
first  origin  and  sanction  of  all  our  civil  rights  and  duties. 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Tkis  Intake  to  be  the  standaid  held  xxp  and  unfiirled  by 
the  Charch  of  the  United  Kingdom^  as  contra-distinguished 
from  the  superstition  of  the  papal  church  on  one  hand^  and 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  innomeiable  hordes  of  Canatical 
communions  on  the  other.  Oar  Church  is  nothing  else  but 
a  standing  conservator  and  teacher  of  the  Scriptures.  This 
is  the  main  principle  of  the  Reformation^  and  of  pabUc  in^ 
struction  in  and  out  of  these  Universities.  This  office  is  its 
chosen  position.  The  Bible  is  its  ensign  and  its  flag^  its  device 
and  cognisance  are^  ^^  The  Defender  of  the  Faith :'' — a  title 
which  it  is  too  late  for  any  one  now  to  ask  it  to  abandon,  so 
long  as  the  Englisb  language,  race,  and  name  are  to  eodnse. 

One  inevitable  consequence  of  the  utmost  importance 
and  extent  followed,  but  reluctantly,  and  at  some  distance, 
the  event  of  our  .Church  keeping  the  above  position;  though 
it  is  only  now  that  this  consequence  has  at  length  completely 
and  fully  manifested  itself  to  view.  The  Church  of  England 
having  at  the  Refbrmation  maintained  thac  high  and  t^om* 
manding  position,  the  Church  of  Rome  have  been  at  last 
obliged  to  alter  theirs.  That  it.  has  alteaed  it  can  at  length 
no  longer  be  concealed  or  denied.  For  besides  sacadficing 
infinite  abuses  that  Leo  the  tenth  (and  much  wiser  popes 
in  their  moral  conduct  at  least)  acknowledged  to  be  such, 
disavowing  and  rertading,  or  ^glossing  over  some  ceitun  rites 
and  dogmas,  they  have  translated  into  English  the  Scriptures^ 
and  do  actually  deliver  and  recommend,  or  say  that  they 
deliver  and  recommend,. the  New  Testament  to  the  people. 
Therefore  the  Church  of  Rome,  pro  tanio,  have  quitted  their 
old  ground  of  in&Uibility,  &c«  and  haiw  so. far  fecof^is^  the 
principles  of  the  Church  of  England.  No  sophistry  can 
explain  this  away. — ^II  CoarKo.  I  think  having  given  up  so 
much,  the  rest  they  retain  is  not  worth  the  keeping,  and  they 
had  better  be  candid  at  once,  and  admit  all.-— Falk.  At  all 
events  they  cannot  in  candour  explain  away  this  consequence ; 


TRUE  ORTHODOXY  IN  CHURCH  AND  STATE. 

and  if  they  make  the  attempt,  I  understand  we  may  shortly 
expect  what  will  eternally  silence  it,  a  recognition  in  a  diplo- 
matic form  by  the  church  of  Rome,  of  that  of  the  United 
Kingdom. 

Edgar.  How  unnecessary  then  is  the  attempt  to  fix 
obstinately  the  Roman  Catholics  of  Ireland,  in  their  schism 
from  the  religion  of  the  nation,  and  how  mischievous  to  have 
re-settled  the  Jesuits  there  I*^Falk«  Especiadly  sinpe  it  is 
well  known,  that  the  Roman  Catholics  there  would,  in  time, 
by  a  gentle  andsteady  course  of  p<^ey  in  promulgating  the 
protestant  religion  as  it  ought  to  hpfw  imennglegeneniUan, 
they  would  long  ago  have  conformed. 

Falk.  These  ave  the  historical  and  political  relations  under 
which  churches  may  be  -viewed.  As  to  their  moral  relation, 
there  are  three  fixed  and  permanent  characteristies,  that  bear 
a  necessary  and  immutable  relation  to  the  nature  of  man  in 
all  ages  and  countries.  I  will  put  this  in  the  most  fisvouffable 
manner. 

In  a  certain  form  of  church,  there  is  a  spirit  of  equality 
among  the  rulers^  a  kind  of  club-like  spirit,  as  of  any  bro- 
therhood, or  friendly  society  :-^there  is  an  exclusive  attach- 
ment ;  a  spirit  of  concert,  secresy,  economy,  and  perseverance, 
that  would  make  any  institi^tion  respected :  were  it  not  for 
its  inseparable  attendants,  intolerance,  -pride,  aTarice,  and 
its  propensity  to  intrigue  and  faction. 

In  another,  there  is  a  certain  paternal,  or  rather  magis« 
terial,  authority,  which  >will  not  admit  of  so  mruch  as  the 
supposition,  that  it  can  err.  Resting  on  its  age,  cxjperience, 
and  patriarchal  power,  togethev  with  its  intimate  knowled^ 
of  the  weaknesses  in  mind,  body,  and  estate,  of  those  subject 
to  its  wardship,  it  appeals  not  so  much  to  their  reason,  as  to 
thefar  taste,,  imagination,  h^opesj,  dependance,  ignorance,  and 
fears.  Such  a  ehurch-goTernment  is  so  easy  to  the  ruler> 
so  simple^  and  (considering  the  weakness  of  mankind),  so 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORB. 

natural  and  obvious^  while  its  operation  is  so  powerfal^  nni* 
versalj  and  lasting,  that  philosc^bers  and  politicians^  as  well 
as  legislators,  have  always  regarded  it  with  envy,  and  have 
copied  and  recommended  it  as  a  model  of  imitation. — 1l 
CoRTSG.  We  may  remark  here,  that  the  Church  of  Rome 
became,  in  the  history  of  modern  Italy,  oligarchical  from  the 
nature  of  the  then  exkting  government  at  Rome.  And  it  is 
to  this  principle,  as  a  cause,  that  the  charges  against  it,  of 
intolerance,  pride,  avarice,  as  well  as  its  spirit  of  intrigue 
and  faction,  are  attributable.  To  these  attributes  of  an 
oligarchy,  it  vainly  attempted  to  unite  the  irreconcileable 
and  incompatible  attributes  of  the  patriarchal  government. 

Falk.  But  there  is  a  third  principle  in  society  more  in- 
timate, more  constant,  and  more  powerful,  than  either  of 
those  above-mentioned.  There  is  a  being  in  every  family 
that  sympathises  with  all  the  members  of  it,  and  which  keeps 
them  together  as  one ;  taking  the  liveliest  and  justest 
concern  about  them  it  identifies  its  interest  with  theirs ;— a 
being  that,  having  years  and  discretion,  is  ever  recommend- 
ing condescension  to  inferiors,  afiectionate  duty  to  superiors, 
and  good  fellowship  among  neighbours  and  equals.  While 
it  raises  its  ''  soul-subduing  voice''  to  stem  authority,  it 
unites,  at  the  same  time,  to  patient  fortitude  a  graceful 
winniog  meekness,  and  to  softness  of  manners  all  the 
dignity  of  silent,  undeserved,  suffering  1  Though  invested 
with  delegated  authority  and  power,  yet  unassuming  and 
self-denying,  forbearing  to  seek  even  its  own  : — a  being,  in 
short,  which  destined  with  pains  and  labour  to  bring  man 
into  this  world,  cherished  and  fondled  him  when  he  was  an 
object  of  indifference  or  disgust  to  every  other,  and  never 
forsaking  him  in  any  trial  of  mind,  body,  or  estate,  after- 
wards. The  influence  of  woman,  whether  in  the  endearing 
relations  of  mother,  wife,  or  daughter,  is  the  nearest,  the 
most  universal,  and  the  most  lasting  over  the  human  heart. 


OXONIA  PURGATA«  OXFORD  SPY,  Ac 

It  is  woman  that  smiles  first  upon  him>  though  in  agony 
herself^  at  his  birth  ',  and  when  nothing  else  ails  herself,  at 
the  time  weeps  last  over  him  in  the  grave.  To  woman, 
weak,  destitute  and  helpless  as  she  is,  *'  God  has  given  all 
the  levers  that  move  or  stay  the  nature  of  man."  Let  any  one 
say  in  his  conscience  whether  such  a  character  does  not 
approach  the  nearest  to  a  truly  christian  temper  ?  And  let 
him  next  inquire  what  church  approaches  nearest  to  this,  or 
is  capable,  and  in  a  disposition,  of  approaching  nearest  to  it  ? 
Certain  it  is,  that  sach  a  temper  only  can  win  over  and 
unite  the  churches  of  Christendom  in  one  holy  family  or 
communion. 

Edgar.  As  to  the  bill  for  removing  the  disability  of 
Roman  Catholics  or  emancipaiing  them,  as  it  is  called,  and 
extending  to  them  the  privileges  which  belong  now  exclu* 
sively  to  the  protestant  and  national  religion,  the  very  pro- 
posing such  a  thing  is  one  of  those  tribunitian  arts  which  the 
demagogues  used  to  play  off  at  Republican  Rome^  when 
moving  to  extend  the  privileges  of  Roman  citizens  to  the 
people  of  all  Italy. — ^Falk.  Popularity  with  the  mob  was  the 
object  in  both  cases  of  the  leaders  of  the  people :  and 
therefore  the  Senate  steadily  opposed  and  negatived  the  meac^ 
sure,  as  the  aristocracy  of  England  do  now  oppose  emanci- 
pation* But  whenever  a  minister  or  king  of  England  shall 
be  so  strong  as  to  attempt  to  play  the  part  of  a  Marius  or  a 
CsBsar,  the  measure  will  be  proposed  and  carried  immediately. 
On  such  an  occasion,  obsequiousness  on  the  part  of  Church 
and  Parliament,  will  be  the  warrant  for  their  extinction. 
Once  vilified  and  become  traitors,  the  very  next  moment  will 
be  too  late  for  proffering  back,  like  Iscariot,  a  return  of  the 
bribe.  The  answer  will  be,  <'  it  was  their  business  to  look 
to  that,  let  them  go  and  hang  themselves.'' 

.  Il  Cortbg.  But  the  author  of  the  Oxonia  Purgata,  is  an 
advocate   for  what  is  called  Emancipaiionf — Faul.  He 

s 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFOHD. 

lias  ionie  other  original  opioioiis  which  we  shall  discosi 
to-morrow  in  remarking  upon  Oxonia  Pnrgata. 

■ 

OlLOmiA,  PUBQATA^  OXFOBD  8PT,  k^ 

The  tracts  of  the  PDovoat  of  Orielj  and  the  Rector  of 
Lincoln,  lay  mixed  with  some  others  upon  the  table ;  in  pu- 
ticular  the.  Edinburgh  Review  and  the  QiLford  Sp]r.  Tk 
company  were  unanimous  against  the  title  of  the  latter.— 
Edgar.  The  word  spy  cannot  be  itaken  in  a  good  senae.— Ii 
CoRTBG..  Fortunately  for  its  author,  it  does  not  applj  to 
him.  He  certainly  has  made  no  new  discovery,  uDlessthisbe 
one :  ^  the  adniirable  firmness  of  Qxfohi  in  a  mag&tmmous 
defiance  of  argument  and  derision,  and  a  gkrioos  coDteDpt 
for  the  o{»nion  of  the  worid,  during  ike  last  200  yasn." 

Paul.  This  is  the  conseqiiencc  of  edioing  the  declama- 
tions of  others^  without  consideriiig  tbat^  perl^ps,  sHMhof 
the  evil  has  been  corrected  100  years  ago,  and  mAd 
the  remainder  some  ten  or  twenty  years  ago.  At  thtt  tioe 
indeed -there  might  have  been  some  colour  for  this  hypeibo- 
lical  charge. — II  Cortsg.  It  is  to  be  regretted  tbat  tbt 
author  who  has  shewn  so  much  talent  in  the  composHb&of 
prose  and  verse  fdodui  semumes  uMusque  UngumJi  shonU 
be  so  prejudiced  on  subjects  ci  educatioit ;  and  sd  yasiODi 
in  originality  himself  as  to  the  themy  of  his  poem. 

Edgar.  It  is  truly  ludicrous  the  importance  wH  vliich 
he  announces  some  discoveries  in  the  second  part  to  his 
poem,  as  newy  which  were  actually  stated  sod  refitted 
several  years  ago,  by  the  Provost  of  Oriel ! 

Falk.  What  he  says,  and  with  originalitjr,  of ) V^  ^ 
applicable  to  all  tuition,  monitorship,  and  wholesome  nff' 
vetUance  whatsoever ;  and  in  my  very  humble  opinioD,  it  0 
so  much  for  the  better.  <^  Logic,''  he  say%  <<  is  often  broagbt 
mp  in  the  first  examination,  because  it  is  a  sku  fMi9» 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &c. 

the  second  5  and  it  fastens  itself  upon  the  gownsman^  through-^ 
out  the  whole  period  of  his  residence :  like  the  guard  which 
a  traveller  has  to  attend  him  through  a  dangerous  country^ 
hut  which  he  is  glad  to  get  rid  of  for  ever,  as  soon  as  he 
arrives  at  the  frontiers  of  another/' 

Another  remark  of  his  is  worthy  of  the  wisest  and  best 
philosopher,  if  he  had  applied  it  better;  **  that  some  apparent 
defects  are  equally  useful  in  the  physical,  and  moral,  world. 
It  is  as  necessary  there  should  be  a  mixture  of  abuse 
and  imperfection  in  human  institutions,  as  that  there  should 
be  a  ponion  of  impurity  in  the  very  air  we  breathe/'^-LADY 
G.  It  follows  that  the  argument  drawn  from  analogy ,  and 
which  is  so  often  applied  to  Church  and  State  (for  nothing  hu- 
man is  perfect),  isin  fairness  also  in  favour  of  the  Universities. 

£j>OAB.  I  certainly  agree  with  him,  however,  *'  that  it  is 
an  insult  to  common-sense  to  tell  us  that  there  are  lectures 
upon  mathematics  and  experimental  philosophy  at  Oxford^ 
if  it  is  a  known  fact,  that  few  have  time  or  inclination  to 
attend  them/'  The  study  of  mathematics  is,  it  seems,  not 
necessary  for  a  degree.  Honour  and  celelNrity,  indeed,  attend 
success  in  their  pursuit;  while  neither  a  degree  nor  honours 
follow  the  study  of  Natural  Philosophy.  The  lecture  even  is 
only  promised  conditionally,  that  is,  '^  if  a  dass  can  or  shall 
be  formed/'  This  is  a  perfect  mockery,  if  none  or  £ew 
attend^  or  wish  to  attend  them,  while  opinion  aiid  duty  are 
against  them. 

Ii.  CoRTBG.  This  reminds  me  of  some  dergyaen  in 
James  the  Second's  time,  who  upon  being  ordered  to  read  to 
their  parishioners  the  declaration  of  James,  wherein  he.  took 
'it  upon  himself  to  repeal  the  Reformation,  observed  befoie«4 
hand,  that  *'  though  he  might  be  forced  to  read  ity  theyi 
were,  not  forced  tolitteutoriiJ*  The  congregatwn  accord- 
ingly  left  the  church,  and  the  declaration  was  read  to  empty 
walls. 

s2 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Falk*  Ik  is  singular  that  the  author  should  mentioQ  the 
following  as  a  charge  against  the  Universities.  '^  The  rein 
and  not  the  spur,  is  in  use  there.  A  compositioQ  is  judged 
not  by  the  greatest  beauties,  but  the  fewest  faults.  Flights 
of  imagination  are,  altogether,  discouraged.'*  Adding: 
*^  that  the  most  needful  qualifications  there  for  writing,  are 
education  at  a  public  school ;  a  mechanical  tact  ia  imitatiog 
the  ancient  authors,  (that  is,  the  best  models,  yoa  will  ob- 
serve) ;  and  a  servile  compliance  with  the  reigning  taste  of 
the  place/' 

Edgab.  If  that  reigning  taste  is  good,  (and  let  Pailia- 
ment  look  to  that),  why  not  ?  lliough  I  confess  I  do  not  like 
that  word  servile. — ^Ladt  G«  With  that  exceptioni  I  think 
it  is  the  highest  eulogy  of  our  generous  youth,  as  well  as  of 
the  grooms  who  break  them  in,  and  train  them  for  the  arts  oT 
peace  and  war. 

Falk.  As  for  the  trite  topic  that  so  many  plants  of 
genius  are  blighted  or  smothered,  at  least  stinted  in  their 
growth  by  the  learning  of  our  Universities,  we  may  observe 
that  no  real  genius  was  ever  yet  hurted  by  it :  witness  the 
Miltons,  the  Newtons,  the  Byrons,  &c.  and,  not  to  mn  into 
an  endless  catalogue,  the  author  of  the  Oxfi»d  Spy  himsdf. 
But  the  method  of  the  University  brings  to  the  test  all  £ilse 
genius,  and  makes  it  so  manifest  on  experiment  that  it 
stands  self-corrected ;  nor  favours  the  world  with  any  more  of 
its  prolusions.  If  the  verse  of  Grey  be  true,  tbst  ^M 
many  a  gem  of  purest  ray,''  &c.  is  never  brought  ap  to  the 
light  of  the  sun,  there  are  many  wits  whom  the  Univernty 
test  has  shewn  to  be  no  gems  at  all ;  but  which  have  been 
afterwards  very  usefully  and  contentedly  employedi*^ 
glazing  a  window. 

Ladt  G.  Others  again  who  were  proved  not  intended  by 
nature  to  wield  the  rod  ot  empire,  or  to  open  new  fields  of 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,&c. 

science,  have  done  important  service  to  themselves  and  thehr 
country,  in  busying  themselves  about  the  afiairs  of  a  parish, 
and  in  plain  homely  farming  at  a  plough's  tail. 

Falk.  But  applauding,  as  I  sincerely  do,  the  poetical 
talent  of  the  author^  of  the  Oxford  Spy,  and  still  more  the 
compasition  of  his  preface,  which  with  most  of  the  notes  I 
think  extremely  well  written,  and  rejecting  merely  the  canto 
third  in  order,  which  might  suit  any  other  order^  po^m  or 
subject,  just  as  well ;  rejecting  further  almost  the  whole  of 
his  supplementary  poem,  prose  and  verse,  (the  spirit  of  the 
first  not  requiring  to  he  encreased  in  apparent  quantity,  by 
a  gallon  of  water  being  poured  into  it),  I  wish  that  the  pen 
which  traced  the  following  beautiful  passage,  had  been  em- 
ployed on  a  better  argument.  It  is  where  he  adverts  to  the 
several  reforms  of  discipline,  which  have  taken  place : — **  A 
future  age  will  hardly  believe  that  such  errors  or  prejudices 
ever  exbted ;  any  severe  satire  against  Oxford,  will  soon  be 
obsolete  and  unintelligible.  If  such  errors  are  only  once 
brought  to  light,  they  will  be  like  bodies  that  have  long  been 
shut  up  in  the  grave,  which  instantly  fall  to  pieces  on  exposure 
to  the  air,  and  crumble  into  nothing.  While  the  subjects 
on  which  they  played,  will  be  remembered  only  among  the 
antiquities  of  Oxford." 

Ladt  G.  I  understand  Mr.  Thomas  Warton,  also  a  poet, 
directed  his  wit,  not  against  the  University,  but  against  the 
students  and  the  lions  (as  you  strangers  are  called),  as  well  as 
yovLTjachalkj  the  writers  of  Guides  and  Companions.  For, 
he  thought  the  former  wanted  a  little  illumination  from  the 
latter,  and  these  a  little  instruction  from  the  former. — II 
CoRTBG.  The  wittiest  part  of  the  book,  is  the  title-page 
itself.  He  seems  afraid  that  his  wit  may  not  be  seen,  and  he 
is  so  ostentatious  of  himself  as  a  good  shot,  that  he  has 
scared  plenty  of  game,  by  pointing  but  eagerly  what  he 
means  to  idm  at.  He  must  have  been  but  a  young  sportsman 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

«t  the  time,  and  seems  ratber  vain  of  his  licence.    I  most  say 
he  reminds  me  of  those  lines  in  the  Oxford  Spy  : 

*'  Lptt,  ai  the  lamp  which  f  limmen  on  the  tonb, 
**  He  ihiiiet  the  meteor  of  the  Common-Room, 
**  His  joyi  are  dead  ere  life  is  well  be^im  ; 
**  His  wit,  sense,  genios,  dwindle— -to  a  pan.'* 


Falk.  But  in  the  author  of  the  Oxonia,  we  have  really 
to  do  with  a  man  of  wit,  sense,  and  genius.  To  whom,  how- 
ever, we  may  apply  the  following  lines  in  the  Oxford  Spy,  as 
Csdrly  as  to  Aristotle : 

*'  Shall  science  own  a  literary  Pope  ;        * 
**  No  I — Praise  the  master  genius,  bat  deny 
*'  To  anght  on  earth  infallibility.^' 

I  was  present  one  day,  about  three  years  ago  at  St.  Mary's, 
when  all  the  heads  of  ccdl^es  were  present,  and  was  eit/er- 
tained,  I  must  confess,  by  an  irotiical  sermon  addressed  to 
the  junior  part  of  the  University.  The  congregation,  as  you 
may  well  believe,  bounced  at  the  following  passage :  <<  In 
the  new  formed  discipline,  of  which  we  boast,  the  philo8<^hy 
which  has  enlightened  the  world  is  omitted  or  passed  over  in 
a  superficial  way;  and  the  student  is  exercised  in  narrow  and 
contracted  rounds  of  education,  in  which  his  whole  labour  is 
consumed  and  his  whole  time  employed  with  little  improve- 
ment in  useful  knowledge.  He  has  neither  time  nor  incli«* 
nation  to  attend  the  public  lectures,  in  the  several  depart* 
ments  of  philosophy ;  nor  is  he  qualified  for  that  attendance* 
All  that  he  does,  or  is  required  to  do,  is  to  prepare  himself 
to  pass  through  these  contracted  rounds,  to  write  a  theme, 
or  point  an  epigram  :  but  when  he  enters  upon  life,  actions 
bis  profession,  both  the  lAUle-go  and  the  Greai-go  (certain 
turnpikes,  you  must  know,  in  the  road  to  a  degree  here),  he 
will  find  (o  be  a  By-go  ;  for  he  will  find  that  he  has  gono  hjt 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFK>ltD  SPY,  &c. 

the  best  part  of  useful  and  substaoUal  learning,  or  that  it  has 
gone  by  him,  to  recover  which  he  most  repair  to  the  institu«» 
tions  in  the  naetropolis,  or  in  the  prorincial  towns,  instead  of 
this  famous  seat  of  l^rning/' 

IlCortbg.  I  suppose  this  passage  worked  upon  the  risible 
muscles  of  the  congregation,  and  produced  some  meny  fisu^es. 
Falk«  I  was  afraid  to  look  round,  lest  I  should  break  out 
into  a  downright  laugh.  And  if  I  had  begun  I  do  not  know 
when  I  should  have  finished,  for  the  humour  of  the  passage 
was  enhanced  by  the  gravity  and  naiveie  with  which  it  was 
pronounced  ex  caihedreu 

Ladt  G.  But  waving  the  place  and  manner,  there  is  an 
authenticity  in  a  publication  of  this  kind  that  requires  an 
answer,  if  it  can  be  given  to  it. 

Ii.  CoRTBG.  I  have  seen  the  sermon  printed. 

Falk.  In  another  part  he  hinted  something  about  the 
'^  pomp  of  learning  without  its  power,  and  of  the  ostentation 
of  learned  ignorance,  &c.  vain  deceit,"  &c.  And  he  declared 
roundly,  '^  that  he  meant  in  that  sermon  to  address  himself 
exclusively  to  the  Junior  members  of  the  Univeraity :''  add* 
iog  with  good-humoured  irony,  ^'  that  as  for  the  learning  of 
the  seniors,  that  was  already  too  profound  for  Atfii  to  fathom^ 
too  deeply-rooted  for  them  to  profit  by  any  instruction  of  hb  $ 
or  too  much  involved  in  ancient  lore  for  him  to  comprehend  1'' 

Edoab.  But  if  his  pulpit-irony  is  sometimes  in  the  wrong 
box,  he  has  an  energy  and  a  gravity  out  of  it,  in  his  Oxonin 
Purgata,  (certain  tracts  addressed  to  tiie  University  and  the 
worid),  that  make  an  awfiil  impresdon,  considering  the  sab^ 
ject,  and  the  authority  of  the  speaker.  He  has  also  a  can-* 
door  when  allowing  the  merit  of  Aristotle,  whom  he  is  at  the 
same  time  impugning,  that  I  think  is  as  manly  as  it  is  liberal. 
Of  his  energy,  what  think  you  of  the  following  passage  ?  I  do 
not  vouch  for  the  correctness  of  the  application  to  the  per-» 
sons  and  subjects  in  question,  but  this  at  least  appears  to  me 


DIALOGUB  UPON  OXFORD. 

eloquent  He  is  speaking  of  the  public  lectures  on  natural 
and  experimental  philosophy.  ^<  The  person  who^as  filled 
the  chair  for  more  than  thirty  years^  whose  loss  every  friend 
of  philosophy  must  lament^  and  whose  memory  every  one 
who  heard  him  will  think  upon  with  gratitude,  was  the  eye 
of  Oxford.  For  you  might  pass  through  the  schools,  and 
see  men  with  learned  faces  standing  on  their  rostrums,  and 
disputing  in  all  the  subtleties  and  chicanery  of  logic,  as  blind 
in  regard  to  the  subjects  of  learning,  which  they  affected  to 
discuss,  as  the  oak  on  which  they  stood, — ^where  all  was  dark- 
ness— ^into  the  under  room  of  the  museum,  with  the  professor 
in  his  chair,  his  book  in  his  hand>  and  his  experiments  before 
bim,-— where  all  was  light." 

Falk.  Alas  1  I  am  afraid  we  have  too  much  light  at  pre* 
sent.  The  brass  mirror  of  the  modem  physics,  reflects  the 
light  so  strongly  that  it  has  struck  many  a  spectator  stone- 
blind* 

1l  Cortbg.  It  must  be  allowed  the  philosophy  of  mind 
has  for  this  last  seventy  years  been  adjourned  for  physical 
speculations  and  materialism.  Our  financiers  now  place  all 
their  abstracted  notions  and  metaphysics  in  paper  money 
and  specie.  What  with  these  and  the  chemists  and  physi- 
cians (the  true  ghostly  confessors  of  this  day)  nature  is  become 
the  exclusive  object  of  our  study  and  worship,  instead  of  the 
God  of  nature  and  his  providence.  As  a  proof  of  this  we 
have  rejected,  and  necessarily,  the  natural  philosophy  of 
Aristotle,  for  on  that  subject  we  are  not  to  be  contented 
but  with  the  very  best.  But  we  have  not  been  so  difficult  as 
to  reject  his  moral  philosophy,  not  taking  so  great  an  interest 
in  this  latter  subject.  Tet,  I  think,  the  Rector  of  Lincoln 
asks  well :  *^  why  should  we  reject  that  under  the  authority  of 
Newton,  and  not  this  also,  under  the  still  greater  authority 
of  the  Gospel  ?" 

Edgar.  He  shews  great  fairness  in  allowing,  what  ap* 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &c. 

pedifs  to  him,  the  real  merits  of  Aristotle.  After  saying  that 
his  Acroamatics  happen  to  be  written  in  a  more  abstnise 
style  than  the  other  works  of  the  Stagyrite,  and  difficult  to  be 
understood  (unless  explained  in  a  viva  voce  conversation  for 
which  they  were  designed ;)  and  that  in  two  others  of  his 
works  there  is  truly  much  refined  metaphysics  and  original 
philology  deserving  the  admiration  of  every  age : — (though 
be  thinks,  perhaps  justly,  these  studies  are  much  too  diffi- 
cult and  abstracted  for  younger  minds),  he  speaks  thus  of  the 
great  master  of  the  Lyceum :  ^'  Etenim  fuii  is  quern  vere 
dicas  cognita  etperspecta  habuisse^  literisqueconsignataad 
posieriiaiem  transmi8isse,fere  omnia  qute^  ea  iBiate,  salu 
digna  et  erant,  et  videboiUur.  After  admitting  that  he  ex- 
tended the  boundaries  of  science,  he  says;  *^  that  Aristotle 
was  an  acute  and  able  mathematician  appears  more  clearly, 
from  his  analytics,  than  from  any  other  of  his  works,  which 
(the  Analytics)  contain  the  philosophical  rationale  of  that 
all  perfect  science ;  but  which  as  a  logic  onfy,  is  inappli-* 
eabW*  to  all  other  parts  of  learning :  these  not  partaking  of 
its  scientific  perfection.  That  he  was  an  exquisite  philolo^ 
gistf  versed  in  all  the  deep  philosophy  of  language  beyond 
the  fathom  of  the  common  grammarian,  as  well  as  a  deep 
fnetapkyricianf*  he  repeats  in  his  third,  quoting  his  firsts 
address.  In  which,  however,  I  must  observe,  he  had  said 
also,  that  '^  Aristotle  failed  in  his  physics  and  dialectics  also,'* 
(according  to  the  Rector)  ^  '^  merely  because  he  had  the  fnie^ 
fortune  to  pursue  the  wrong  method  instead  of  the  right ; 
the  synthetic  instead  of  the  analytic.'' 

Il  Cortbg.  In  discovering  logic,  as  well  as  in  discovering 
any  thing,  he  must  have  followed  the  method  of  discoveryy 
that  b  the  analytic  method ;  but  in  teaching  logic  as  any 
one  must,  or  in  using  it  as  in  any  other  communication  of 
discovered  truth,  he  followed  the  synthetic  method.  Ini 
truths  this  is  the  method  of  all  communication ;  and  it  is  for 


DIALCMHJB  UPON  OXFORD. 

Ilie  sake  of  commamcadDg  it  again^  that  we  dkoover  aoy* 
tliing.-^FAUL.  This  seems  admitted  io  terms  where  the 
Beetor  sajs^  ^^  that  syllogism  could  be  of  little  use  in  the 
mTestigation  <3l  truth,  or  in  the  advancement  of  learning ; 
whatever  uee  ii  might  be  of  in  the  cammtmieation  by  di$^ 
course/' 

EooAJU  The  Rector  rqpeats,  '^  that  Aristotle,  in  his  book 
of  Categories,  and  in  that  on  Interpietation,  has  displayed 
much  refined  metaphysics  and  original  philology,  deserving 
the  admiration  of  every  age.''  And  of  his  works,  generally, 
he  acknowledges  with  Lord  Bacon,  the  value  of  the  monu- 
■lents  they  contain,  hoping  only  the  University  will  always 
make  a  proper  «m  of  them  by  a  proper  degree  of  cultivation. 
He  seems  to  thmk  (consistently  enough),  diatas  the  modem 
art  of  war  is  altered  by  the  invention  of  gunpowder,  so  is  the 
modem  philosophy  by  the  method  of  Bacon  and  his  followeis. 
Fajlk.  In  phyrics  no  doubt  it  is— ^-by  the  modem  discoveries, 
as  in  moral8-*-by  the  arrival  of  Christianity. 

Edoar.  Speaking  further  of  the  examinatioos  in  Ae 
Greek  and  Latin  tongues,  called  the  Literee  kumaniores,  he 
observes,  ^'  besides  their  connexion  with  ovr  religion,  these 
languages  are  the  doors  into  the  gardens  of  Greece  and  Rome, 
replete  with  vast  historical  resources,  and  with  those  monu* 
ments  of  taste  and  elegance  which  have  never  yet  been 
improved ;  and  therefore  still  remain  as  standing  models  far 
study  and  imitation.  Not  however  the  philosophy  they 
contain.'*  He  shrewdly  asks,  '^  why  should  young  men  be 
directed  to  learn  all  the  morality  of  the  ancients,  under  flie 
plausible  suggestion  that  they  may  compare  it  with  the 
morality  of  the  gospel }  Why  learn  first  the  false,  to  learn 
afterwards  by  it  the  trae  ?  Why  not  rather  leam  first  the 
true,  as  a  standard  to  reject  the  false )  if,  indeed,  they  are  to 
leam  this  at  all }" 

With  regard  to  th^  lectures  given  at  Oxford,  the  learned 


OXONlA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &c. 

and  eloquent  Rector  of  Lincoln  College^  does  certainly  sum' 
up  some  grave  charges,  which  do,  as  certainly,  require  an 
an  answer.  It  is  not  for  us  to  decide  '^  where  doctors  dts-* 
agree  ^"  but  these  charges  require  an  answer.  In  particular^ 
after  giving  a  table  of  attendances,  and  shewing  their,  gradual 
and  yet  rapid  declension,  of  the  neglect  of  mathematics,  '^  a 
science,^'  as  he  beautifully  (because  truly),  says,  ^^  enshrined 
in  a  circle  of  light,''  he  says  ^<  he  is  lost  in  amazement  ["-^IL 
CoBTTMG.  As,  indeed,  any  rational  man  mnst  be. — Edgar* 
'^  Grammar,''  he  says,  f*  ia  totally  omitted.''  Speaking  ef 
some  new  profit  of  examinations  then  the  /iipis>  he  men«^ 
tions,  as  a  known  fact,  the  Regius  Professor  of  Greek  having 
lain  dormant  for  more  than  twenty  years ;  and  he  calls,  upoa 
him  with  a  stentorean  voice,  to  discharge  his  puUic  duty, 
or  to  resign.    This  was  ten  years  ago. 

The  principal  finely  observes,  while  touching  upon  classic 
ground :  ^'  it  is  impossible  that  poetry,  which  is  its  brightest 
ornament,  which  glances  through  all  its  avenues,  and  illu- 
mines the  scenes  both  of  Orsecian  and  Roman  antiquity, 
should  not  strike  his  attention."    He  calls  it  *'  the  child  of 
imagination,  one  of  the  richest  and  sublimest  feculties  of  the 
human  mind,  to  be  cultivated  and  improved  in  that  stage  of 
life  when  it  is  plastic  and  capable  of  impression.    In  classical 
poetry,  one  .of  the  first  and  fittest  objects  of  academical 
education,  richly  supplying  the  imagination  with  models  of 
the  best  taste,  that  both  ^  raise  the  genius  and  mend  the 
heart"  in  an  exercise  than  which  none  more  usefuHy  delights^ 
and  streogthens  the  Judgment.  In  thb  department,  a  profes- 
sor may  range  through  the  rich  and  varied  fields  of  the 
purest  delight,  directing  his  puprk  to  every  delidous  and 
fragrant  flower."    And  yet  in  this  lecture,  the  attendance  is 
so  scanty,  that  he  compares  the  professor  to  ^'  the  dying 
swan." 

Falk.  It  would  be  invidious  to  follow  the  Rector  through 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

\Ab  aniknadversions  upon  the  other  Professorships^  as  well  a» 
on  the  shortness  of  the  time,  and  the  insufficiency  o£  that 
test  called  Public  Examinaiions ;  but  if  these  things  are 
not  already  mended,  they  should  be  so,  and  no  doubt  they 
will  be.  It  may  be  of  use,  howerer,  to  enumerate  the 
objects  proposed  in  a  College-examination,  as  the  intention 
at  least  seems  faultless,  whatever  may  be  the  execution.  K 
The  rudiments  of  the  Christian  Religion,  t6  see  that  the 
foundations  are  firmly  laid  in  the  students'  understanding. 
Some  portions  of  the  Greek  version  are  read  in  the  original, 
and  interpreted  with  pertinent  questions  put  and  discussed* 
2.  Upon  the  Church  articles,  questions  are  propounded,  and 
solved  on  reference  to  Scripture.  3.  The  evidences  of  re- 
ligion, natural  and  revealed.  4.  The  Liters  Huma$dore$y 
and  the  rhetoric  and  moral  philosophy  of  the  ancients ;  to* 
gether  with  the  Dialectica^  or  logic,  of  Aristotle*  5*  Three 
volumes  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  writers  of  the  best  age, 
answering,  to  whatever  critical  and  historical  questions  m«f 
be  started  thereout.  6.  The  candidate  is  next  to  read  an 
English  author  extempore  into  Latin,  or  to  translate  it  in 
writing.  7«  Mathematics  at  large.  8.  And  last,  which.  I 
think  its  proper  place,  the  elements  of  natural  phitosophy. 
\l  Cortbg.  Is  it  possible  that  it  was  ever  in  contemplation, 
to  have  all  this  in  one  examination  only,  which  was  to  last, 
too,  but  half  an  hour  ? — ^Edgar.  We  have  the  authority  of 
the  Rector  of  Lmcoln  College  for  saying  so  it  was  : — that 
is,  ten  years  ago. 

Il  Cortbg.  What,  then,  is  the  course  of  studies  pursued 
here  ? — Falk*  Nothing  seems  less  understood,  or  more 
industriously  misrepresented,  than  this  matter. — \h  Cortbg. 
But  are  not  the  mbrepresentations  on  both  sides  ? — ^Falk. 
At  all  events,  the  course  was  reformed  and  settled  some 
years  ago.^-lL  Cortbg.  Upon  what  occasion  ? — Faj.k.  The 
answer  to  this  might  seem  some  admission  to  our  impognants ; 


OXON1A  PURGATA,  OXFORD  8PY,  &c. 

but  we  should  never  be  ashamed  to  own  we  have  been  wrong  i 
and  the  reform  itself  admits,  that  all  was  not  right  before. 
Certainly  it  had  been  too  long  slept  over. — II  Cortbg.  But 
even  the  improved  plan,  though  pretty  when  sketched  on 
paper,  may,  like  any  other,  work  ill  in  practice,  or  be  wholly 
impracticable.  And  I  think  I  have  heard  you  admit,  that 
the  books  and  portions  of  science,  for  the  first  year  alone,  of 
a  student's  residence  at  the  University,  are  such  and  so  many, 
that  no  genius,  by  the  most  diligent  study,  can  finbh  them  in 
the  whole  four  years  of  his  stay  here  ?•*— Falk.  They  do  not 
come  here  to  Jlnish  the  circle  of  knowledge,  but  only  to  be 
soundly  initiated.  Besides,  the  plan  pre-supposes  a  good 
preparation,  with  living  guides  to  shorten  the  length  of  the 
journey,  and  pioneers  to  smooth  the  diflBculties  of  the  road. 
Then,  too,  it  is  idle  to  think  that  any  general  system  cai^ 
equalise  the  powers  of  different  minds.— Labt  G.  Not  to 
mention  unequal  stations  and. unequal  years  of  life.^-FALK. 
The  only  convenient  and  practicable  standard  is  a  general' 
undistinguishing  law,  as  in  the  liberal  professions  of  the 
world  at  large,  it  is  therefore  the  respective  standing.  And 
since  compulsion  (an  instrument^  even  in  the  nursery,  far 
from  the  best,  or  the  only  one),  is  here  quite  out  of 
the  case,  the  governing  principle  must  be  emulation.-^lL 
CoRTBG.  But  emulation  again  depends  on  opinion;  the  fashion 
of  which  is  set  by  those  who  govern  church  and  state.  And 
if  at  court,  and  in  the  liberal  professions,  literature  and  science, 
are  not  esteemed  as  they  ought  to  be,  (I  say  as  they  ought 
to  be,  for  they  might  be  esteemed  too  much,  and  there  are 
still  higher,  as  well  as  lower  and  more  engaging,  interests  to 
be  attended  to),  how  can  we  expect  that  the  rising  youth, 
especially  of  rank  and  fortune,  will  be  very  emubms  about 
such  things  ? — ^Falk.  Opinion  is  the  primutn  mobile  un« 
doubtedly.  At  the  foundation  of  Universities,  this  opinion 
was  dictated  by  ecclesiastics,  who  drew  up  the  scheme  of 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

oar  education.  Ecclesiastics  have  now  too  litde  power  and 
ioflucDcey  because  they  had  once  too  much ;  aod  Hemy  the 
Eighth's  object  at  the  reformatioo,  was  not  religioo  nor 
0dueaiion,  but  reprisal,  money,  and  power.  Education  has 
been  a  eanu  omi$nu  in  our  legblative  enactments. 

In  the  absence,  or  neutrality,  however,  of  opinion  or 
fiHhion,  fiewouring  the  trae  Univerdty  pursuits,  it  is  hardly 
therefore,  to  the  examinations,  perhaps  a  mere  foiniy  but  to 
the  discretion  of  tutors,  and  to  the  student's  own  exertionr 
in  private,  that  we  must  look  for  the  discipline  of  Oxford. 
Edoau.  I  wish  you  could  add,  to  the  pnbHc  lecturos 
also. — ^FALK..It  is  not  their  fault,  periiaps. — ^Edcab.  Nor  thst 
of  the  students  ? — ^Falk.  No  :  nor  of  the  principals,  feUows, 
andacholanof  this  University.  The  fault  lies  out  of  this 
phwe,  and  we  have  hinted  at  it  above. 

Upon  the  course  of  studies^  we  have  not  time  for  detsik 
But  the  first,  examination,  that  is,  after  two  years  standing, 
supposes  the  student  an  adept  in  the  purest  classics,  in  Al- 
drieh'a  Compend  of  Logic,  the  best :  also  in  elementaiy  geo- 
metcy  at  least  If  be  foils,  it  passes  sub  sileniitK — ^Ii*  C6m- 
TBG.  You  pass  also  sub  sUeniio  the  phrase  for  this.^ 
Edgar.  He  is  '^plunked" — ^II  CoBTBfi.  Of  codise  it  will  be 
some  time  before  his  wings  will  be  sufficiently  fledged  and 
feathered  to  attempt  any  daring  flight,  or  indeed  to  try  his 
wings  at  all. — ^Faxk.  He  does  not  receive  his  certificate ; 
But  be  may  present  himself  the  next  term,  new-fledged. 
After  obtaming,  however,  his  certificate,  the  rest  depends 
entirely  upon  his  wan  exertions.*— Il  Cortbg.  I  do  not  like 
its  depending  entirely  upon  any  thing  so  problematica]  m 
thaif  by  the  bye. 

Falk.  After  the  third  year  is  completed,  the  student 
may  present  himself,  (ttiough  it  is  common  to  defer  it  to  the 
end  of  the  fourth,)  for  the  second  examination.  At  this  he 
is  questioned  touching  the  rudiments  of  the  Christian  reli^ 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &r. 

gion^  Its  primitive  languages,  its  histoiy;  then  as  to  its  whofe 
scheme ;  its  evidences;  the  thirty-nine  articles  of  the  national 
form  of  it }  which  last  qualification  pre-supposes  the  having 
studied  some  good  commentary  upon  them.  He  is  aliso  agam 
examined  in  the  leading  principles  of  logic.  On  this  occa» 
sion  some  selections  are  made  from  the  Organon  of  the  great 
master  of  the  Lyceum. 

The  examination  then  proceeds  to  Rhetoric  and  Ethics  : 
upon  which  subject  the  justly  esteemed  treatises  of  Aristoth 
are  chiefly  used.  I  need  not  remind  you  of  their  merit.<— I& 
CoRTBo.  I  am  free  to  admit  that  they  are  above  all  enco** 
mium.  So  are  his  Poetics^  and  in  the  opinion  of  many^  his 
Politics, — Falk.  These,  again,  are  Teft  to  the  option,  of  the 
student. — \l  Cortjcg.  It  is  singular  that  Mis  should  be  left  to 
those  who  are  the  least  capable  of  forming  an  option  ? — 'Hon 
is  the  subject  surely  a  matter  of  indifference.  Especially  as 
lAiePoUiies  are  in  fact  the  continuation  only  and  completion 
of  the  Ethics. 

Falk.  Besides  these,  the  Rhetoric  of  Quintilian,  and 
the  philosophical  works  of  Cicero,  (especially  that  de  OfidU 
as  belonging  to  ethics)  are  admitted ;  but  not  indispensably. 

In  speaking  here  of  the  classics  you  aie  not  to  under- 
stand that  they  are  studied  merely  for  the  Greek,,  and  Latin 
idioms,  or  even  for  their  style:  but,  in  truth,  for  the  vast  store 
of  knowledge,,  morals,  political  and  historical,  tliey  contain* 

II  Cortro.  You  forbear  to  speak  of  the  little  time  given 
for  these  examinations,  the  choice  of  the  examiners,  the  tech- 
nical routine  of  the  questions  and  answers,  which  two  parrots^ 
almost,  might  be  taught  to  give  ? 

Fai.k.  I  do;  these  are  matters  of  regulation,  which  either, 
are,  or  may  be,  provided  against.  In  all  conduct,  as  in  lair 
i^li^  much  must  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  oiBcers  them- 
selves, according  to  circumstances,  which  cannot  be  foreseen^, 
and  therefore  cannot  be  with  precision,  fore-appointed.-?»« 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

Ladt  G.  We  must  view  these  things  with  grains  of  allow* 
ance  and  with  the  most  liberal  candour. — Ii^  Corteg.  The 
student^  I  observe,  names  his  own  authors  at  bis  owe  optioiL 
Faxr*  Yes,  but  then  he  is  taken  at  his  word>  and  is  expected 
not  to  slip.  The  great  object,  however,  is  a  dclibente, 
accurate,  and  scholarlike  construction,  not  a  hastjr  superfi- 
cial  one,  taking  too  extensive  a  range. 

Besides  the  questions  and  answers  given  viva  voce,  many 
matters,  particularly  on  mathematics,  are  resolved  upon  paper, 
while  other  things  are  going  on.  The  examinations  are  public, 
and  must  be  attended  by  a  numerous  audience  ;  as  it  is  a  pre* 
nous  condition  to  a  student  himself  being  examioed,  to  have 
attended  the  examinations  of  others.  The  thing  itself,  too, 
is  interesting  as  an  exhibition ;  and  naturally  draws  an  au- 
dience. The  place  is  in  the  public  schools,  and  hence  their 
name. 

Il  Cortkg.  From  all  this,  however,  I  can  collect,  that 
though  all  is  public,  the  public  have  no  control  nor  voice  ? 
And  the  whole  thing  his  evidently  pre-concerted.  It  b  not  a 
real  trial,  but  a  solemn  play  of  one  :  its  being  public  there- 
fore is  all  a  mockery. 

.  Fai«k.  Were  it  otherwise,  the  constitution  and  govern- 
ment of  the  University,  could  not  be  relied  on  or  foreseen  for 
a  single  day.  The  examiners  can  produce  any  given  result 
they  choose.  Whatever  privilege,  benefit  or  immunity,  suc- 
cess either  supposes  or  leads  to,  it  is  clear  the  examiners, 
that  is,  the  University,  can  command  this,  as  a  man  may  ha 
limbs  or  property. 

In  this  way  it  is  still  managed,  that  however  extensive 
and  multifarious  be  the  compass  and  attainments  of  any  stu- 
dent, these  can  be  exhibited :  while  those  of  the  most  narrow 
powers  and  attainments  are  equally  sure  of  what  is  called  a 
degree  at  the  usual  time  ;  provided,  there  be  not  on  the  port 
of  the  latter  extreme  incapacity,  extraordinary  want    of 


^  '      \         .    .1.  ' 


,    »■ 


II'.      • 


'  I       I 


t    ■ 


DIALOGUE  UPON    OXFORD. 

schools  to  recite  lessons  ^learned  io  private.  1  used  to  think  it 
depended  wholly  upon  the  Principals  and  Fellows  ? — ^Falk. 
That  cannot  be ;  the  tone  and  character  of  these  most  be 
placed  in  the  third  degree  of  influence ;  the  second  is  the 
virtue  of  the  student ;  but  the  first  is  the  opinion  of  the 
world  out  of  doors^  and  principally  at  cooit^  as  abofe* 
mentioned* 

h.  Ck>BTBG.  But  as  to  the  College-lectures :  thb  is  siid 
to  be  an  innovation  upon  the  original  plan  ? — FaiXm  I  do 
not  understand  that^  unless  you  mean  an  innovation  of  iOOO 
years  standing,  or  more  ?•— Il  CoaTSO.  I  suppose  it  ceased 
for  some  time  at  the  English  Universities,  and  has  beeo 
revived  again.  It  has  uniformly  prevailed  in  the  Scottbh 
Univei'sities,  and^  I  believe,  in  most,  if  not  all,  foreign  ones. 
Falk.  There  is  no  solid  objection  against  the  system  of 
lecturing  except  one  (which  is  easily  cured),  the  making  them 
exclusive.  Whereas,  they  should  be  admitted  concurrently, 
or  rather  subordinately,  to  the  system  above-menUoned,  of 
private  reading  under  tutors,  with  reference  always  to  public 
examinations* 

The  Provost  of  Oriel  has  discreetly  limited  the  preten- 
sions of  the  lecturing  system  :  observing  well,  that  it  b 
adapted  rather  to  hearers  of  extraordinary  powers,  and  is  not 
to  them  the  only,  nor  to  them  and  others  the  best,  means 
of  conveying  instruction;  particularly  to  ordinary  minds, 
that  is,  the  great  majority  of  students*  And  though  It 
powerfully  excites  the  thirst  for  distinction,  and  thus  pio» 
motes  emulation  (his  leading  principle),  yet^  as  he  wefl 
observes,  ^<  our  English  [John  Bull]  husbandry  is  truly  on  a 
large  scale:— let  us  beware  how  we  sacrifice,  after  the 
example  of  vain  ostentatious  breeders,  the  food  of  some 
twenty  or  thirty  head  of  good  cattle,  for  the  sake  of  making 
a  proud  shew  of  one." — ^II  Cobte6.  I  agree  with  the  PrOTOst 
here ;  though  I  do  not  see  how  these  proud  shews  are  cha- 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &c. 

racteristic  of  the  lecturing  system^  in  particular,  more  tbanr 
of  the  other  modes  of  teaching  ?  I  agree  with  those  who 
complain  that  the  farming  society  have  spoilt  at  least  half 
your  conversation  and  mutton  in  £ngland  already ;  and  that 
your  Rumfofdising  economists  would  annihilate— the  re- 
mainder. Boards  of  education  have  a  similar  tendency. 

Edgar.  But,  in  fact,  Oxford  admitting  the  lecturing 
systeim,  with  the  rest  of  its  constitutions^  to  a  certain  extent, 
might  still  *'  cultivate,  as  an  experiment,  the  sending  out  over 
Europe  the  fame  of  a  few  exalted  individuals :  or  acquire 
renown  by  exploring  untrodden  regions  of  observation  and 
science ;"  affording,  at  the  same  time,  a  greater  supply  of 
subordinate  talent,  in  consistency  with  the  Provost's  pro* 
fessed  principle  of  emulation  ? — II  Cortkg.  In  the  forum 
of  the  world,  its  system  could  not  defend  itself  without  this. 
Falk.  Hence,  the  fame  of  the  Scottish  and  Swiss  students 
every  where  ;  and  hence,  perhaps,  the  real  occasion  of  the 
impioveinents  lately  adopted,  and  concerning  which,  you  put 
a  question  to  me  some  time  ago.     This  is  the  only  effec- 
tual answer  it  should  give   to  its  impugnants;  without 
compromising  its  dignity  so  far  as  to  answer  unauthorised 
accusers. 

Il  Cortbo.  But  I  can  never  go  along  with  the  Provost 
in  that  part  of  his  reasoning,  where  he  says,  ^'  as  the  students 
are  taught,  not  by  tutors,  but  by  public  professors,  U  cannot 
well  be  €uceriained,  what  impression  these  make  on  each 
indiridual.*'  Why  cannot  it  be  ascertained  ?  Is  not  the 
University  responsible  for  this  ?  It  certainly  undertakes 
nothing  less*  What  kind  of  institution  would  that  be, 
where  the  professor  answers  to  inquiries  :  '*  you  must  col* 
lect  how  far  these  things  exercise  the  student's  mind  by  the 
general  tendency  of  such  studies  i"  But  why  not  see  that 
the  student's  mind  b  so  exercbed  ?  The  students  might, 
for  such  non-interference,  be  as  well  any  where  else  as  at 

T  2 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Aie  University.    It  is  not  for  such  expectations  they  bare 
been  sent  here. 

Falk.  You  overlook  all  this  while,  that  the  Univeisity 
of  Oxford  is  not  a  national  foundation  ? — II  Cobtbg.  But 
the  nation  has  adopted  it ;  and  has  given  it,  with  its  sister 
Universities,  the  exclusive  privilege  of  initiating  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  as  well  as  of  the  learned  professions ; 
while  the  nobility,  gentry,  and  merchants,  send  to  it  their 
children  as  the  great  standard  of  education. — ^Falk.  But 
it  is  clogged  with  statutes,  making  provisions  for  the  neigh* 
hours  and  kindred  of  the  respective  founders;  confining 
its  choice  to  certain  schools,  dioceses,  counties,  parishes, 
and  families  even,  all  so  many  variant  constitutions,  more  than 
one  of  which  cannot  be  the  best.  Are  the  wills  of  private 
beneflEu^rs  to  be  set  aside  ?  If  these  were  public  bounties, 
the  legislature  might  ordain  what  is  for  the  best ;  but  it 
will  always  respect  private  property. 

\l  Cortbg.  And  for  that  very  reason  it  should  interfere 
to  see  the  intention  of  the  founders  carried  into  execution. 
Tliese  estates  are  not  the  private  property  of  the  University, 
but  a  trust  for  certun  charitable  uses.  To  consider  them 
otherwise  for  one  instant,  is  already  a  violation  of  private 
property .*~Edgar.  And  the  worst  of  all  violations,  for  it 
is  by  a  trustee. 

Mr.  Cockburn,  Christian  Advocate  at  Cambridge,  has 
proposed  a  plan  for  limiting  the  duration  of  all  Fellowships 
to  ten  or  twelve  years,  giving  compensation,  of  course,  to 
the  present  possessors. 

Falk.  Not  to  mention  other  hardships  which  would  be 
attendant  on  this,  the  great  object  he  proposes  (that  of  sending 
Fellows  of  Colleges  into  active  employment),  is  already  ef- 
fected by  the  permission  universally  granted  of  non-residence. 

Il  Cortbo.  Yes ;  but  the  non-residents  ought,  in  con* 
science,  to  leave  their  fellowships  behind  them.    Do  you 


OXONIA  PURGATA»  OXFORD  SPY,  ftc. 

call  this — the  respecting  tbe  wills  of  the  donors  and  the  rights 
of  priTate  property  ? 

IfADT  G.  I  understand  not  more  than  one  sixth  part  of 
the  Oxford  fellows  are  resident,  very  few  more  than  are 
engaged  in  the  business  of  education.  The  rest  are  dis- 
persed throughout  the  world  in  different  ways. 

Ii.CoRTB6.  Neither  can  I  agree  with  the  Provost^  that  it  is 
not^  and  ought  not  to  be^  the  business  of.  a  collegiate  body^ 
Uie  encouragement  of  speculation  ;  or  that  their  business  is 
rigidly  to  execute  an  established  system,  and  nothing  more ; 
merely  to  teach  and  recommend  what  is  thoroughly  known 
and  approved.    This,  no  doubt,  is  their  first  and  mast  indis- 
pensable duty,  so  far  as  regards  the  students ;  but  as  it 
cannot  and  need  not  occupy  the  whole  time  of  the  Principals 
and  Fellows,  these  might  devote  some  of  their  leisure  to  the 
Muse  of  liberal  speculation. — ^Ladt  G.  Besides,  is  it  certain 
that  even  that  first  paramount  duty,  the  business  of  edu- 
cation, is  scrupulously  attended  to  ?    For  if  it  were,  it  must 
be  confessed  to  be  a  great  matter.    But  I  agree  with .  him, 
that  what  is  truly  the  business  of  so.  illustrious  and  eminent 
a  body,  possessing,  as  it  does,  the  standard  and  test  of  truth, 
*^  is,  by  their  authority,  to  try  new  opinions.    It  is  absurd^ 
and  even  indecent,''  as  the  Provost  observes,  *^  to  expect  thai 
every  crude,  opinion,  or  untried  theory,  shall  enter  and  take 
the  chair  as  soon. as  it  demands  admission;  often  too  with 
great  clamour  and  insolence  :  and  that  these  venerable  sages 
of  instruction  are  to  rise  up  for  iiand  make  room,.. in  ovder 
to  receive  it.    Let  the  experiment,  by  all  means  (if  there 
be  any  man  announcing  that '  truth  has  spoken  te  him  before 
other  men,'  a  very  high  pretension  you  will  allow),  let  the 
experiment  be  tried,  and  repeatedly,  in  some  insignificant- 
spot,  some  comer  of  the  farm;  but  kt  us  not  risk  the 
whole  harvest  of  the  year  and  cut  up  even  the  soil  itself 
upon  a  doubtful  project/' 


.DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

If.  CoRTBG.  Many  instances  have  occurred  of  speculatcn^ 
who  had  a  good  estate  from  some  downs^  the  soil  of  which 
yielded  only  a  short  sweet  grass  for  flocks  of  sheep.  They 
were  advised  to  plough  it  up^  and  to  convert  it  into  araUe 
landj  in  the  view  of  becoming  rich  all  at  once  ;  they  did  so^ 
and  were  ruined. 

Falk.  You  will  all  allow>  that  as  to  ano&er  province  of 
education  the  most  important  of  any,  the  Ptovost  is  right  in 
saying,  that  Oxford  is  slow  to  believe  any  new  discoveries 
can  be  made  in  it :  adding,  '<  that  the  scheme  of  Revelation 
is  closed,  and  no  new  light  can  now  be  expected  on  earth  to 
break  upon  us/'-*-Ii.  Cortbg.  TVne;  but  the  scheme  of  self- 
RrformaiHon  is  not  closed.— Paul.  I  am  free  to  acknowledge 
that ;  and  further,  that  as  Oxfc^  is  a  great  teacher,  it  is 
Kol  ^y?fl  the  teacher  of  the  scripture ;  and  that  its  first  care 
should  be,  that  that  may  never  be  again,  as  heretofore 
hidden  from  the  world;  then  mis-interpreted  and  perverted, 
so  as  to  have  become  an  engine  of  fraud,  error,  blind  euper- 
atition  and  tyranny,  at  one  time^^His  of  fraud,  error,  blind 
fanatidim  and  anarchy,  at  another. 

But  to  conclude  this  short  sketch  of  its  course  of  teach- 
ing, the  discipline  of  composition  in  English  and  Latin  prose, 
occasionally  in  verse,  is  rightly  prodded  for.  A  preeU,  or 
abridgment,  called  here  a  colUctien  of  what  one  has  read 
or  heard :  also  a  review,  or  re-capitulation  of  former  studies 
examinations  and  collections :  with  prize  exercises  recited  in 
the  theatre  at  the  annual  commemqratfen,  conclude  the  circle 
of  instruction  at  the  University. 

Il  Cortrg.  What,  then,  are  we  to  consider  as  the  con- 
summate Oxonian,  %  ItXtvlmof  tmytmifia  ; 

Edgar.  According  to  the  Rector  of  Lincoln  College,  or 
of  the  Provost  of  Oriel,  (i  ft>rget  exactly  which),  it  is*— to 
write  well. 

Falk.  And  I  agree  with  him,  if  we  take  those  expres- 


OXONIA  PlHtGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &c. 

sions  in  the  most  extended  sense^  the  sense  in  which  Cas- 
tiglione  uses  the  word  Cariegiano,  and  the  conception  Cicero 
entertained  of  an  ali-accomplished  orator. 

Laj>t  G.  Espriella  says,  that  the  Universities  are  the 
spots  where  established  opinions  are  inculcated.— Il  Cortbg. 
He  b  right  if  he  means  that  they  are  the  standard  of  opinion 
in  religion^  goremment,  and  science,  in  good  literature  and 
taste ;  but  he  is  wrong,  if  he  means  the  fashionable  opinions 
of  the  world. 

Falk.  I  take  the  latter  to  have  been  his  real  meaning : 
for  he  adds,  that  a  knowledge  of  the  world  is  gained  here.— - 
II  Cortbg.  Ridiculous !  Of  domestic  life,  of  which  the 
sex  forms  so  large  a  part  3  of  the  world  abroad,  of  which  it 
also  forms  such  a  part ;  of  the  arts  and  different  trades  and 
professions  by  land  and  sea ;  of  public,  or  official  business^ 
what  idea  can  be  gathered  here  ?  But  here,  a  thinking  stu- 
dent>  if  he  be  really  one  (study  and  thought  being  by  no  means 
the  tone  or  mode  of  this  place),  may  leam  the  elements  of 
knowledge,  and  may  make  a  good  analysb  of  some  general 
chapters  of  life,  of  himself  and  his  feUows,  of  the  clerical 
character,  perhaps,  and  of  the  future  unfledged  statesman, 
orator,  and  writer.-^FALK.  An  elementary  discipline,  which, 
for  every  reason,  can  never  be  well  prosecuted  afterwards  in 
the  aecidents,  changes,  business,  and  masquerade  of  human 
life. 

1l  Cortbg.  To  fit  us  for  the  world,  for  human  life,  for 
human  afiairs,  is  the  rational  object  of  education.  But  for 
this  purpose,  that  is,  to  be  fit  for  the  world,  it  is  by  no  means 
necessary  to  be  like  it ;  rather  the  contrary,  but  still  in  such 
a  way  as  to  be  able  to  put  up  with  the  world,  and  to  be  put 
op  with,  by  it.  A  servile  dependant  and  imitator  of  it,  is  any 
thing  but  a  man  of  the  world,  projperly  speaking.  It  is  better 
to  kick  the  world,  than  to  be  kicked  by  it.  Iii  doing  so^,  it 
mil  not  quarrel  with  you ;  its  instinct  is  so  mudi  that  of  a 


DIALOGUE   UPON   OXFORD. 

dog,  that  it  will  only  like  you  the  better.  It  is  your  politi- 
cians that  are  the  flatterers  and  lick-^spittles  of  the  world  ; 
but  to  consider  for  a  moment  these  just  above  the  rank  of 
brutes,  and  to  take  them  as  men,  who,  by  flattering  the  world's 
vices  and  weaknesses,  lead  or  govern  it;  government  is  a 
system  that  acts  not  wholly  by  force  and  fraud,  nor  wholly  by 
religion  and  reason — ^neither  by  mere  authority,  nor  mere 
vicious  compliances, — bribery  or  vindictiveness — bullying  or 
persuasion— but  by  all  these,  according  to  the  tempers  of 
individuals  and  bodies  of  men,  and  the  circumstances  of 
places  and  times :  for  it  is  a  mockery  to  talk  of  justice, 
eqaityj  and  public  spirit,  in  these,  or  almost  any,  times. 
Now  the  lessons  of  childhood,  boyhood,  and  manhood, 
(or  the  nursery,  school,  and  the  world),  are  independant  of 
that  at  the  University :  at  least  the  first  and  last  are  unde- 
niably so.  These  will  take  care  of  themselves,  malgri  qu'on 
en  ait.  What,  therefore,  an  University  can,  and  should,  do, 
is  to  exert  itself  in  those  matters  only  that  are  within  its 
province ;  and  its  province  extends  over  the  most  virtuous 
and  critical  season  of  life,  our  adolescency.  In  this  it  should 
give  those  acquirements  which  the  other  schools  are  defective 
in ;  and  by  all  the  means  in  its  power,  counteract  and  break 
the  force  of  those  evils,  excesses,  and  defects,  that  it  is  not 
in  its  power  fully  to  cure  or  prevent ;  taking  care,  however, 
not  to  give  habits  that  disqualify  for  the  school  of  the  world. 
Perhaps  the  best  thing  it  can  do,  is  to  cross  the  maxims  and 
institutions  of  the  nursery  and  the  world  as  much  as  may 
be,  so  far  from  fostering  and  promoting  them :  this  sbould 
be  the  real  tendency  of  its  discipline.  Home,  or  the  nursery, 
gives  domestic  habits ;  a  public  school,  forensic  and  repub- 
lican ones ;  a  University  should  give  contemplative,  secluded, 
and  speculative  habits.  The  world  gives  active,  industrious, 
interested  habits,  a  hollow  clamorous  patriotism,  a  spirit  of 
chicanery,  intrigue,  and  faction,  an  apathy  to  every  thing 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &c. 

that  is  liberal^  a  sceptical  indifiTerence  and  disbelief  of  re- 
ligion^ an  indulgence  of  sensual  pleasure,  a  lying  scandal,  a 
torrjf  ambition,  and  a  cold  isolated  avarice.  A  University 
should  give  the  beau  ideal  of  the  love  of  our  country,  of  pure 
religion,  pure  government,  heroic  temper  steeled  with  cou- 
rage and  gentleness,  humility,  disinterestedness,  abstemious- 
ness, celibacy,  implicit  obedience.  This  is  the  way  to  teach 
youth  one  day  how  to  command;  and  how  to  manage  that 
brute,  the  world,  and  its  groom  or  rider,  government. 

The  world  gives  practice;  a  University,  theory:  that  is 
for  action  and  business,  /A<s  for  discipline  and  preparation. 
The  world  discovers ;  a  University  teaches  what  is  discovered 
and  established  as  truth.  Without  ringing  antithetical 
changes,  in  short,  the  very  contrary  biasses  should  be  given 
in  this  place  to  every  thing  out  of  it ;  not  to  destroy  these 
last,  for  that  is  impossible ;  but  to  correct  and  regulate  them. 
As  a  proof  that  this  is  not  a  mistaken  principle,  we  may  illus- 
trate it  by  one  topic  only,  that  of  religion.  Let  any  candid 
man  who  knows  himself  and  the  world,  and  who  has,  of  coarse, 
read,  thought,  and  conversed,  with  every  variety  of  rank  and 
character,  say,  whether  there  is  a  day  that  every  one  of  us 
does  not  violate  every  maxim  of  Christianity  ?  Yet,  what 
would  this  world  be  without  it— or,  at  least,  sometking 
that  looks  like  it,  is  borrowed  from  it,  and  has,  at  least,  if 
not  the  name,  some  traditionaiy  reference  to  it  ?  Who  can 
deny  that  Christianity  has  a  visible,  as  well  as  a  secret  and 
universal  influence,  over  communities  as  well  as  individuals,  in 
the  treatment  of  the  sex,  of  children,  servants,  neighbours, 
rivals,  and  even  enemies  7  From  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  it 
is  diametrically  opposite  to  all  our  practice.  It  is  the 
sao^e  with  the  other  parts  of  University,  or  theoretic,  dis- 
cipline and  learning.  If  the  original  intention  of  its  insti- 
tutions be  kept  up  (I  admit  they  are  not,  and  it  is  all  a  finrce 
and  joke,  but  lam  speaking  hypothetically),  it  is  a  hermitage 


mALOGVE  UPOK  OXFORD. 

of  prayer,  Asting,  and  watching,  of  self  denial,  and  religioas 
meditation;  a  real  penitentiaiy,  the  best  antidote  and  altera- 
tive diet  and  regimen  against  worldly-mindedness.  Its  very 
chamcteristic  lesson,  its  logic,  is  full  of  impediments,  steeps, 
labyrinths  and  precipices.  The  fair  region  of  disconrae  is 
taken  by  the  Alps,  as  Italy  was  by  Hannibal.  The  tendency 
of  the  world  b  excitement  and  new  changes  called  impnnre* 
ments ;  of  the  University,  it  is  a  remora  upon  the  spirit  of 
enterprise  ever  lannching  out  into  a  sea  of  doubtful  innova- 
tions. 

Laj>t  6.  But  if  the  nursery,  or  home,  give  one  set  of 
habits,  school  a  second,  and  college  a  third,  the  world  being 
different  from  all,  the  character  will  be  as  mixed  and  un- 
certain as  the  very  cliodate  under  which  we  live? — ^It  Goriso. 
It  will  be  so  much  the  better,  and  more  in  the  aaalagy  of 
the  constitution  under  which  you  live,  as  also  of  that  general 
constitutbn  of  the  world  under  Providence.  Such  is  our 
mixed  condition  here,  in  this  life. 

Edgar.  Espriella  says,  that  th^se  Universities  were 
originally  founded  for  one  profession  only ;  and  that  the 
education  here  does  still  point  to  that  one  only  ?-^Ii,  Cortrg. 
I  wish  the  second  part  of  his  proposition  were  as  true  asthe 
jBr8t«^-FALK.  It  ought  to  be  true ;  for  whatever  our  pursuit 
is  in  life,  we  are  still  supposed  ever  to  remain  of  that  one 
profession.    Every  man  is  bound  to  be  a  christian. 

Edgar.  Bat  quU  custodiei  cusiodes?  who  should  be 
visitor? — ^Falk.  I  leave  any  one  to  answer  thai  ques* 
tion  as  weU  as  be  can.  It  should  be  Parliament ;  but  upon 
the  strictest  inquiry  I  know  of  none,  except  Providence. 
2%atf  only  and  alone,  takes  care  of  what  is  right.  What  is 
wrong  has  friends  enough,  and  is  sufficiently  robust  in  this 
world  to  take  care  of  itself. 

These  institutions,  however,  under  the  vigilant  control 
of  Parliament,  should  be  the  vicegerents  of  Providence. 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPT»  &c. 

They  should  adapt  and  point  their  discipline  from  time  to 
time^  still  counter*balancing  the  world ;  for  the  world  is 
constantly  changing,  some  say  for  the  better,  others  for  the 
worse ;  but  that  it  is  continually  changing  all  agree* — II  Cor- 
TEG«  It  IS  only  changing  or  revolving  in  the  same  dull  circle  : 
scepticism  and  dogmatism  are  the  two  poles  of  its  specu- 
lations. The  opinion  of  the  world,  often  vacillating,  or 
tremulously  stationary,  as  the  needle  of  the  compass,  varying 
more  or  less  in  certain  latitudes.— Lady  G.  They  say  the 
mariner's  compass  gets  mad  at  the  poles?— Il  Cobtbg.  I 
xeaUy  do  not  know.  I  never  was  mad  enough  to-  make  the 
experiment. 

Faul.  I  am  sure  the  phUosopJdcai  compass  does.    Now 

you  are  talking  of  opinion,  you  remind  me,  by  the  way,  of 

J^aculHes.    We  may  now  answer  a  question  put  by  ^« 

frida  some  time  ago,  why  physicians  are  called  gentlemen 

of  the  faculty  by  way  of  eminence } 

At  Oxford,  as  at  Paris,  there  are  four  faculties  (or  members^ 
limbs,  powers,  organs,  and  eyes),  of  the  University.  1.  The 
arts,  including  the  literas  humamores  and  philosophy.  This 
is.  said  to  have  been  much  the  most  ancient  and  extensive 
faculty.  2.  Theology.  3.  Medicine.  4.  Jurisprudence,  or 
Laws. 

Il  Cortkg.  I  think  the  first  usurps  a  wrong  place  in  your 
distribution,  and  should  stand  where  you  have  put  the  second ; 
but  go  on. 

Falk.  I  think  so  too ;  for  the  highest  degree  is-  that 
of  Doctor; 'while  of  the  arts,  there  are  no  degrees  higher 
than  Bachelor  and  Master.  The  word  faculty  is  used  abso* 
lately,  however^  and  by  way  of  eminencef  for  what  is  chiefly 
studied  and  taUght  at  any  place  t  thus  the  faculty  of  Plaris 
was  theology;  of  Orleans^  law;  but  of  Monl^lier -and 
London,  it  is  medicine. — Edgar.  For  a  similar  reason,  per- 
haps,.  gentlemen  of  the  long. robe  are  called  at  London, 


DIALOGUE  UPON   OXFORD. 

prqfeisional  men :  the  several  Inns  of  Court  having  been 
the  exclusive  University  for  teaching  the  common-law.  The 
interests  of  body  and  eitaie  are  alone  minded  at  London. 

Ii.  CoRTBG.  The  modem  spirit  of  rumfordismg  every 
thing  (taken  from  the  Swiss  and  German  economists),  is 
such^  that  it  would  retrench  the  learned  professions  alto- 
gether as  useless.  Surgeons  and  apothecaries  do  now 
supersede  physicians  in  many  establishments ;  attomies,  the 
men  of  the  long  robe ;  while  the  clergy  are  elboWed  off  by 
parish  clerics,  churchwardens,  and  lastly,  by  the  Bible  Society 
agents.  I  am  pretty  well  aware,  that  certain  statesmen  and 
finawAetn  relish  thb  very  well ;  but  do  the  populace  of 
reaeonere  consider  how  fatal  it  will  be  to  liberty }  We  talk 
ot  the  rqmblicot  letters,  and  yet  would  destroy  the  most 
vital  members  of  it,  the  nobles  of  literature  and  science.— 
Ladt  G.  I  like  better,  I  confess,  the  analogy  of  a  free 
monarchy,  which  is  mixed  ;  and  the  best  ingredient  of  the 
composition  is  a  well-educated  aristocracy. 

£l>GAR.  According  to  political  oeconomists,  revenue, 
public  and  private,  is  the  only  rational  object  of  study ;  and 
bodily  labour  the  only  standard  of  value*— 'I  l  Cortbg.  There 
cannot  be  a  more  pernicious  barbarism ;  it  is  like  all  the  rest 
of  their  odious  statistics.  Adam  Smith's  principle  of  the  sub- 
division of  labour,  and  his  enlarged  ideas  of  letting  religion 
and  letters,  as  well  as  trade  and  farming,  shift  for  them'- 
selves,  without  any  particular  fostering  of  those  of  the  native 
growth  of  England ;  this,  with  the  useful  and  agreable,  (in 
other  words,  interest  and  pleasure),  of  that  sceptic,  necessi- 
tarian, and  sophist.  Home— 4hese  mad  philosophies,  together 
with  the  politics  of  those,  who  would  prefer  a  good  soldier 
to  |dl  the  saints  in  heaven,  are  nothing  but  the  fruits  of 
materialism  and  atheism.  But  whatever  the  world  abroad^ 
and  courts  which  are  its  creature,  may  denominate  valuable^ 
necessary,  and  useful,  d  suppose  the  world  and  they  will 


OXONIA  PURGATA,  OXFORD  SPY,  &c. 

take  safficient  care  of  it,  leaving  other  coDcero3  to  the 
Church  and  University.  However,  I  would  throw  out  this 
warning  to  Oxford,  agdnst  following  that  down-hill  road^ 
(or  rather  precipice),  the  assimilating  its  opinions,  science, 
and  studies,  as  well  as  its  recreations,  to  those  feshionable 
in  the  world,  whether  it  be  the  fashionable  modern  philoso- 
phy, or  the  modern  gambling  and  electioneering :  that  to  an 
infallible  certainty,  as  soon  as  this  should  come  to  the  public 
ear«  and  be  known  to  the  world,  the  very  next  morning  some 
Premier  or  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  for  the  time  being, 
will  c^use  their  revenues  to  be  swallowed  up  in  one  vote, 
and  that  with  the  unanimous  voice  and  acclamation  of  all 
England.  For  Oxford  will  have  thereby  stood,  self-con- 
fessedly, stultified  and  useless. 

Edgab.  ''The  system  oi  non-residence,''  says  the  Provost 
of  Oriel,  ''  is  carried  so  far,  as  to  have  affected  materially 
the  aspect  of  the  place*  And  of  those  who  reside  here,  very 
few  are  possessed  of  leisure  to  carry  on  learned  works.  The 
character  of  a  College-Fellow,  so  often  fcmnerly  made  the 
theme  of  satirical  humour,  has,  like  that  of  the  country 
squire,  nearly  disappeared.  The  Universities  have  lost  much 
of  that  characteristic  physiognomy  they  once  had,  as  a  resi- 
dence of  learned  leisure,  and  as  the  emporium  of  literature.'' 

Il  Cortbo.  I  am  heartily  sorry  for  it.  And  if,  also,  they  are 
above  the  cares  of  education,  according  to  the  original  and  best 
intention  of  the  founders,  the  world  will  ask  what  are  they 
good  for  ?  For  the  education,  agreeable  to  the  taste  of 
modern  philosophers  and  courtiers  of  all  ages  is  ever  better 
acquired  elsewherc-rrEDOAR.  It  has  been  invidiously  re- 
marked, (in  the  spirit  of  the  Jacobites,  Wood  and  Hearu, 
no  doubt,  and  of  some  Jesuits,  very  active  these  twenty-five 
years  past  in  England  and  Irelai^d),  that  it  is  a  hard  case 
these  foundations,  which  were  intended  as  bounties  for  the 
Homan  Catholic  religion,  should  have  operated  as  boun* 
ties  against  it  ? 


DIAtOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

Falk.  The  foanders  took  religion  as  it  stood  in  their 
barbarous  days^  withoat  prejudice  to  its  reform.  For  none  but 
God  is  infallible.  They  are  to  be  presumed  ever  of  the 
national  form  of  religion  actually  lawful^  subject  to  the  wisdom 
and  control  of  the  King,  the  Lords  Spiritual  and  Temponlj 
together  with  the  Commons  id  PjBirliament  assembled;  which, 
under  the  name  of  the  Legislature,  represent  this  great  IVo- 
testant  people.  And  our  reformed  church  itself  has  no  other 
title. — II  Cortbg.  Nor  ever  had,  nor  ever  will,  or  can  have. 

EnoAR.  But  was  it  the  intention  of  the  founders,  that 
the  Principals,  Fellows,  and  Scholars,  should  enjoy  at  best,  a 
learned  oscitancy,  without  the  duty  of  teaching? 

Falk.  We  might  perhaps  even  say  that.  However,  upon 
looking  into  the  charters  and  statutes  we  could  easily  come 
at  their  real  construction.  But  abstractedly  speaking,  stu- 
dents are  not  essential  to  a  college.  There  may  be  a  veiy 
flourishing  college  without  a  single  adolescent  student  in  it 
Witness  the  Royal  Society,  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  the 
British  Musieum,  the  College  of  Physicians,  &c.  &c. 

Il  Cortbg.  But  courts  of  equity  constantly  inteipret  wflk 
contrary  to  the  letter,  and  agreeably  to  the  spirit— that  is — the 
intention  of  the  testator,  (in  order  to  render  the  executioii 
thereof  in  any  way  practicable,  which  otherwise  is  a  dead 
letter),  by  accommodating  it  to  what  is  usual  in  nature,  and 
possible  in  practice*  Might  not  such  courts,  or  at  least  that 
higher  court.  Parliament,  look  more  narrowly  into  the  eze* 
cution  of  such  bequests,  and  see  that  men  only  of  distin- 
guished piety,  learnings  and  diligence,  should  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  such  endowments  ?— Falk.  Undoubtedly  it  might ; 
and  this  so  far  from  violating  private  property,  would  be,  in 
truth,  preventing  its  violation* 

But  further:  the  Universities  have  made  it  a  law  to 
themselves  by  their  contract  with  the  public ;  and  that  high 
court  called  optnion,  will  not  suffer  the  infracticMi  of  ttas. 


OXONIA  PORGATA,  OXFORD  '  SPY,  &c. 

They  enjoy,  (and  long  may  they  enjoy  it,  is  my  prayer),  a 
paramount  privilege,  the  superintendancy  of  the  national 
education.  They  must,  therefore,  with  the  benefits  thereof, 
take  the  burden,  which  they  have  imposed  voluntarily  upon 
themselves. 

Il  Cortbg.  At  all  coronations,  a  solemn  oath  is  ad- 
ministered to  the  King,  as  first  magistrate,  though  surrounded 
with  all  the  ensigns  and  pomp  of  sovereign  power,  im- 
posing on  him  the  most  sacred  duties. — ^^lf«  And  England 

SXPBCTS  SVBRT  MaN  TO  DO  HIS  DUTT. 

Il  Cortjsg.  We  cannot  dispense  either  with  the  active 
service  of  this  militia  an  University,  against  the  borderers 
of  Hume  and  Adam  Smith's  school,  *'  to  resist,  with  the 
arms  of  common  sense  and  common  spirit,  that  dynasty  of 
fools/*  as  the  Psalmist  would  call  them,  '<  possessed  as  they 
are  with  the  madness  of  incredulity,  and  a  lust  of  doubt/' 

Man  is  a  moral  agent,  and  though  his  physical  constitu- 
tion is  analogous  to  matter,  yet  he  is  connected  with  religion 
and  law  by  the  nobler  part  of  him,  his  mind.  He  must  not 
be  made  a  mere  German  or  Russian  tool  of,  a  dead  instru* 
meut*  He  is  an  accountable  moral  being  to  God  and  his 
country.  Mind,  and  not  body — the  head,  and  not  the  belly—- 
hold  the  standard  scales  of  value.  In  this  age  of  materitilism, 
pbysicians  (the  priests  of  this  day),  augur,  I  know,  only 
from  the  $taie  of  the  entraUs,  as  the  faaruspices  of  old  did 
at  Rome  and  Egypt.  But.  we  are  composed  of  more  hea- 
venly particles ;  inind-^-an  immortal  soul ;  '^  in  itself  a  good, 
and  of  the  highest  order,  n^hout  reference  to  bodily  dis- 
eases, a[^tite8,«  or  bodily  wants.''  Nature  and  the  world 
will  take  care  of  these,  or  rather  these  will  take  care  of 
themselves.  But  a  civilised  community  must  have  institu* 
tions,  that  will  take  care  of  the  dialectics  of  thought  and 
moral  feeling,  the  keys  of  divine  and  liberal  knowledge.  Re- 
ligion and  polite  learning  are  exotics ;  they  are  not  the  ori- 


DIALOGUE  UPON  OXFORD. 

ginal  growth  of  any  soil  and  climate ;  though  by  due  cultifa- 
tion,  in  the  hands  of  the  skilful  gardeners  in  these  sequestered 
spots^  they  have  been,  as  it  were,  naturalised  among  you,  and 
have  thriven  like  vigorous  forest  trees,  the  palms  and  cedan 
of  Egypt  and  Lebanon*  Without  this  care  you  would  never 
have  known  of  them,  and  unless  this  care  be  kept  up,  joa 
will  come  not  to  know  of  them  a  second  time.  The  essea- 
tial  wants  and  necessities  of  life,  the  vermin  cares  of  the 
world  and  of  courts  i  that  locust,  the  lust  of  money  and 
power,  and  the  blights  of  servility  in  office— would  soon 
cover  the  soil,  and  occupy  and  over-run  the  land. 

Thus  there  are  occupations  and  habits,  which  unless  by 
these  foundations  of  private  benefactors,  or  of  the  legidature, 
could  never  be  cultivated  at  all.  In  answer,  therefore,  to 
the  popular  query, — ^What  good  is  Oxford  of  to  the  man  ai 
business  ?  will  the  studies  taught  there  make  a  man's  Ux- 
tune  ?.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  other  studies  there  do  make, 
and  have  made,  many  a  man's  fortune,  who  went  to  the 
place  in  search,  not  of  knowledge  and  reli^on,  but  of  am- 
nections  and  patronage,  intruding  upon  a  table  not  intended 
for  worldly-minded  men,  '^  and  shoving  away  the  worthier 
bidden  guests/'  It  is  useless  remonstrating  with  them;  (me 
might  as  well,  in  a  fine  speech,  address  the  ears  of  a  wolf 
that  is  just  about  springing  into  the  fold.  But  to  an  honest 
man  of  conscience,  shame,  and  feeling,  I  would  say^  it  is  not 
fair,  nor  b  it  the  business  of  any  one  to  go  to  Oxford  to  make 
his  fortune.  The  only  persons  who  should  go  there,  are 
those  whose  fortunes  are  made  already,  the  nobility  and 
gentry,  together  with  those  who  are  JUtobe  of  the  clergy. 
The  younger  brothers.of  these,  who  may  succeed  to  their 
titles,  estates,  patrooiBge,  and  office,  in  case  of  death,  or 
other  accident,  (and  a  certain  supply  of  others  not  of  the 
rank  of  the  two  former,  by  way  of  resource,  of  men  worthy 
of  the  sacred  calling,  of  more  than  ordinary  promise,  what- 


OXONIA  PUROATA»  OXFORD  8PY»  ace. 

ever  their  rank^  birth^  or  fortune,  m^j  be),  should  be  supei'-- 
added  to  these :  allowing,  in  this  case  also,  for  accidents  of 
death,  &c«  to  keep  up  the  supply ;  that  the  United  Kingdom 
may  never  want  apostles  and  martyrs  even,  if  necessary,  in 
the  cause  of  the  national  religion,  liberty,  and  learning.  But 
the  profeine  and  sordid  fortune-hunter,  or  the  office  and 
benefice-hunter,  scare  him  away  as  you  would  the  serpent- 
tempter  from  the  enclosures  of  thb  delicious  garden  of 
£den. 

Those,  therefore,  who,  in  the  education  of  their  children, 
propose  merely  the  making  a  provision  or  fortune  for  them, 
if  this  be  tbeir  object,  they  should  send  them  elsewhere,  and 
not  to  Oxford*  And  be  it  ever  remembered,  that  what  is 
called  ialentf  with  classical  scholarship,  &c.  is  but  a  secon- 
dary thing.  It  may  be  all  accomplished ;  yet,  if  without 
principle,  a  sound  dialectics,  and  a  rational  devotion,  it  is  no 
better  than  those  unfortunate  beauties  of  the  other  sex,  who 
draw  from  us  a  groan  of  pity  and  compassion,  not  without 
horror,  in  traversing  the  streets  of  the  metropolis.  London 
is  their  college  or  asylum ;  but  the  air  of  these  sacred  mounts 
should  direct  our  thoughts  higher,  calling  us  away  from 
the  ever-recurring  wants  and  appetites  of  the  body,  from  every 
thing  sordid,  mean,  base,  and  unworthy.  ''  An  enlightened 
devotion,  a  high  sense  of  honour,  a  disdain  of  death  in  a 
good  cause,  whether  under  the  instant  frowns  of  a  tyrant,  a 
junta,  or  an  infuriate  rabble ;  a  dutiful  love  of  one's  family, 
and  of  one's  country,  the  larger  family ;  a  spirit  of  national 
enterprise;  an  intuitive  sense  informed  by  the  purest  dialec- 
tics to  distinguish  truth  from  error''  (whether  of  vice,  super- 
stition, or  fanaticism,  popular  faction,  and  still  more  factious 
coart-intrigue)^  '^  are  engendered  by  die  prcper  studies  of 
this  place/' 

It  is  ever,  too,  the  proper  study  of  a  University  to  main- 
tain, that  (since  to  avoid  error  is  the  cardinal  point  of  teaching 

u 


DIAtOGUK  UPON  OXFORD. 

the  making  discoveries  hting  foieigii  to  it)^  logic  csnnot  be 
too  scnipulousty  adhered  to.    '*  It  givtB,  besides  s  quick 
perception  of  utisottnd  reasoning  under  all  its  disguises  and 
and  artifices,  a  rigdroos  accuracy  wherein  every  argwnoit 
IS  analysed,  and  the  reasoning  stated  in  its  most  elenentaiy 
form  on  both  sides/'  This  I  call  iair  play.  Logic  is  as  esscB* 
tial  as  the  art  of  self-defence  ifi  pugilism  and  tactics  c  ^  if 
the  contending  parties  be  of  equal  power  (Which  is  the  only 
way  of  trying  the  utility  of  any  method),  truth  must  prsvai.'^ 
Though  Aldrich's  Compend  is  as  yet  the  be^,  wte  will 
object  to  any  one,  who  can,  making  that  better  }    CHllics  hai 
done  much  towsords  giving  iSk  worM  a  eoneeptkm  of  sooie 
others  of  Aristotle's  iavaluAble  «py>rks.  Unfertutfiately  ws  csa 
have  but  the  fragments  only,  and  disjdnteA  members  of  As 
Stagyrite's  mighty  mind.    These  may  be  ^u^ted,  however, 
into  a  symmetrical  assemUi^e^  as  the  two  arnddahr^  are 
in  the  Radcliffe  Library,  made  up  of  antique  pvcees  ialD 
a  composition  of  ri«(gvkir  beauty  and  haMsony,  insomo^ 
that  any  spectatot  wouM  mistaifee  it  for  the  original  placing  <rf 
them.'    What  then  must  have  beM  these  fragments  of 
Aristotle  when  they  were  aitire,  and  pttt  into-one  compositiea 
by  his  own  master-rhand  ?  <^  For  his  composltio&s  were  not 
desultory  essays,  nor  ingeajous  diairibes :  they  were  what  m 
the  highest  and  most  laborious  eiibrt  of  the  human  mind, 
entire  systems  moulded  all  at  once  into  a  fuH  aad  peifcct 
shape,''  like  the  adult  Minerva  springing  in  iatt  armour  ham 
the  head  of  Jupiter,  opere  dt  prima  iniemsdome.    ^*  Logie 
he  absolutely  created;  ihere  ti^iti  nothing  ds  ^htH  hbd 
bffore.    But  no  subject  was  too  vast  iot  his  eompreiiensive 
mind,  none  too  minute  and  inlricaie  for  bis  sagacity."   No 
man  admired  and  imitated  him  m<m  than  Load  Baeon.  ^  if 
ever  there  were  a  man  who  laboured  against  visumavy  syi* 
terns  and  prejudice  more  than  another,  and  fo  estab&h  the 
reign  of  reason,  good  philosophy,  and  common  sense,  it  was 
Aristotle." 


OXONIA-  PURGATA,  OXFORD  8PT,  ftc. 

TakiDg  these  institutioas  to  be  actiaf  up  to  their  real 
inteatjon,  I  think  aAao  with  the  Provoat  that  their  instnictioDS 
«  an  fitted  to  control  private  mercenary  pursuits,  inspiring  a 
love  of  true  glorj,  fatal  to  the  narrow  habits  and  prejudices  to 
which  the  ■eparatlon  of  the  professions  and  occupations  of 
civil  lifCf  and  the  still  greater  separadon  of  self  from  the 
public  weft],  g^ve  birth.  These  are  too  prone  to  usurp  over 
our  nobler  studies;  particularly  over  those  which  tfwe-4o  aat 
contract  a  relish  for  in  yoMh,  we  never  can  afterwards. 
A  moral  blank,  a»  intellectual  barrenness,  a  poverty  onancji 
and  invention,  a  dearth  of  historical,  (as  well  as  of  mathe- 
matical, dialectical,  and  poetical)  illustration  succeed.  And 
in  the  end,  there  cmoes  a  bailie  of  all  those  ideas  which 
strengthen  aad  decorate  tfuth,  which  enable  us  by  sympathy 
to  identiiy  ourselves  with  our  present  cotemporsries, — living 
over  Ae  times  that  are  past,  neit  without  regret,—- and  anti- 
cipating, not  without 'h^,  Ae  future." 


£RRATA. 

D        11  6  for  **  Wittenagemote  counsel  remd  coondl 

D  1  8  ^  '» AthnolBviR"  ^    AtkniokMiit 

Q        13        IS  —  ''  simplex  mundilu*'  ^    mundltiit 

O        16        88  —  '*  Aead  —    ^ead 

P         4        31  —  *'  pod"  or  bean-pod  —    beau 

S  9        12  —  ^*  tata'*  —    sdta 

B         I        S9  —  **  pedimeau*'  —    parapeto 

8         16        10  -.  •(  Ais  evidently  preconcerted''  read  U  ewU 

dently  preconcerted 
B        10        83  &  85  Omit  the  full-point  before  the  transition-etop 

or  mark  of  anspenie 
▲         3        Dedication,  —  '*  Reepecful"  —    Respec/fnl 

8  7         10  —  «« naivete'*  —    a£lvet6 

L         3        17  —  ^'  terraiae"  —    terraia^. 

K         8       SS  &  83     read  ''  that  it  is  a  proof  of  the  scarcity  of  books 

in  1407  &  1408." 


Coe,  Printer,  Uttl«  CarUr  Une,  St.  Plial*i. 


J 


J 


IiIST    OF     OOPPBlt-PIiATESi 


1*  Rewley  Abbey. 
S.  Oxford  Castle. 

3.  Caerfax  Church. 

4.  St.  GUes's  Church. 

5.  St.  Mary's  Church. 

6.  Osney  Loch. 

7.  View  from  Chrbt  Church  Walk. 

8.  Boat  House. 

9.  St.  Peter's  Church. 

10.  St.  Magdalen   and   St.  Michael's 

Churches. 

11.  University  College. 

18.  Merton  College  from  Christ  Church 
Walk. 

13.  Library,  Oriel  College. 

14.  Founder's  Cup,  do. 

15.  Wadham  from  Trinity  College  Gar- 

den. 

16.  Wadhara  College. 

17.  St.  John's  College. 

18.  Crosier,  do. 

19.  Crosier  of  Latimer,  with  the  Sword 
presented  by  the  Pope  to  Hen.VII  1 

80.  Baliol  College. 

21.  Brazen-nose  College. 

28.  Library,  Corpus  Christ!  College. 

23.  Corpus  Christi  College. 

24.  Crosier,  do. 

25.  Jesus  College. 

26.  Exeter  College. 

27.  Chapel,  Lincoln  College. 

28.  Hertford  College,  with  the  Schools' 

Tower. 
29*  St.  Alban's  Hall. 
SO.  Edmund  Hall. 
31.  Part  of  St.  Mary  Hall. 
38.  New  Inn  Hall. 

33.  Magdalen  Hall. 

34.  New  Magdalen  Hall. 

36.  Drake's  Chair,  Picture  Gallery. 
36.  Schools  from  Exeter  Coll.  Garden. 


ST.  Magdalen  Tower. 

38.  Ancient  Pulpit,  Magdalen  College. 

S9.  Magdalen  College. 

40.  Holywell  Mill  from  Magdalen  Walk 

41.  New  College  from  the  Clarendon 

Printing  Office. 

42.  New  College. 

43.  Crosier,  do. 

44.  AUSouls' Coll.  from  Queen's  CoU. 

45.  Hall,  All  Souls*  College. 

46.  Salt-cellar,  do. 

47.  Tripod,  do. 

48.  Christ  Church,  from  Corpus  Christi 

College. 

49.  View  from  Christ  Church  Walk. 

50.  Bridge  Street. 

51.  Anatomical  School. 

52.  Canterbury  Gate. 

53.  Trinity  College  Chapel. 
64.  Trinity  College. 

55.  View  from  Trinity  College. 

56.  Worcester  College. 

57.  The  same  from  Hig|h  Bridge. 

58.  Pembroke  College. 

59.  Queen's  College. 

60.  Drinking  Horn,  Queen's  College. 

61.  Peg-cup,  Museum. 

62.  Henry  the  Eighth's  Chur,  do. 

63.  Radcliife  Library  from  Exeter  Col- 

lege Grarden. 

64.  One  of  the  Candelabre,  Radcliffe 

Library. 

65.  The  other. 

66.  Clarendon  Printing  Office. 

67.  Botanic  Garden. 

68.  The  Observatory. 

69.  The  Town  Hall. 

70.  The  Methodists'  Chapel. 

71.  Independents' Chapel. 

72.  View  of  Oxford. 


WOOD    OUT8. 


1.  An  Oriel  Window  in  Front  of  Uni- 

versity College. 

2.  Part  of  the  old  Fortifications. 

S.  Water-conduit,  formerly  at  Caer- 
fax-cross,  but  now  in  the  Park 
at  Newnham  Courtney. 

4.  Grotesque  Sculptures  in  Magdalen 
Cloister. 


5.  Fragment  of  an  old  Altar-piece  in 

the  Cloister  at  New  College. 

6.  Statue  of  Cardinal   Wolsey   in  ^ 

niche  of  the  Quadrangle  of  Christ 
Church  College. 

7.  Inigo  Jones's  Porch  at  the   En- 

trance of  the  Botanic  Garden. 

8.  Oxford  Castle. 


I 

L 


This  book  should  be  returned  to 
the  Library  on  or  before  the  last  date 
stamped  below. 

A  fine  of  five  cents  a  day  is  incurred 
by  retaining  it  beyond  the  specified 
time. 

Please  return  promptly. 


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